Southland Times And The Board

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

Southland Times And The Board

Ta the Editor. Sir,— Referring to my conversation with you regarding the statement prepared for presentation to the Board, setting out the history of the negotiations between the Southland Power Board and the Government, and which (although I mentioned it ran into 17 pages) you offered to publish in full up to one page of your paper, this statement was, by authority of the Board, duly handed to the Press, but only that portion relating to the negotiations about the referendum was published in The Southland Times. This was the matter which Mr McChesney referred to in his speech today and asked me to confirm it.

As f had led both him and other Boaid members to believe that the statement would be published in full, I naturally acknowledged the truth of his remarks.

In fairness to you, however, I wish to state that when you made the offer of publication, you had not seen the statement—and I am therefore quite prepared to accept your statement that a misunderstanding had arisen between us, and that when you made the promise, you had in mind only the history of the negotiations regarding the referendum and not of the whole of the negotiations with the Government since 1930.

Nevertheless, had the document been published in full, it would doubtless have given your readers a clearer view of the situation.

In conclusion, although we do not see eye to eye in Power Board matters, I have no complaint to make regarding your treatment of myself. On the contrary, you have willingly accorded me space for any statement I have wished to make, and have given me the privilege of replying by footnote to any letters written regarding Power Board matters. I have also to compliment you upon the full and fair reports you have given of the Board s proceedings. Yours etc., JOHN T. CARSWELL. Chairman, Southland Electric Power Board. Invercargill, July 21, 1936.