DEMAND FOR VOTE

Southland Times, Issue 22948, 22 July 1936, Page 6

DEMAND FOR VOTE

Ratepayers Go To Power Board QUESTION REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Deputation Not Satisfied The right of ratepayers to a vote on the proposed taking over by the Government of the Southland Electric Power Board’s Monowai scheme was expressed plainly and forcibly to the Board yesterday by a deputation of 20 representatives appointed by the public meeting held in Invercargill 10 days ago and by a number of meetings held in different parts of the province during the past week. Several speakers expressed what they said were the very strong opinions of ratepayers throughout Southland, and it was said that the members of the deputation had preparations in train for further action to force a referendum if the Board refused to grant the request. The representations were discussed fully by the Board, and a motion was carried referring them to the Finance Committee with instructions to present a report, including, if thought necessary, conditions under which a referendum would be taken, to a special meeting of the Board within a fortnight. Before hearing the deputation the Power’Board had decided not to strike a rate this year, but to make up the deficit for the year partly by drawing on a reserve account and partly from bank overdraft. The ratepayers’ representatives were satisfied neither with this undertaking nor with the Board’s decision to refer their resolution calling for a referendum to the Finance Committee, and at a subsequent meeting they decided to prepare and circulate a petition calling on the Government to take over the power scheme.