POWER SCHEME

Southland Times, Issue 22998, 18 September 1936, Page 8

POWER SCHEME

MEETING AT PUKERAU. SUPPORT FOR RETENTION. There was an attendance of approximately 50 ratepayers at a meeting to discuss the Southland electric power question at Pukerau last evening. Mr G. Gordon presided and Messrs W. McChesney and J. T. Carswell addressed the meeting on the case for the retention of the scheme. The speakers were accorded a good hearing, and answered several questions to the satisfaction of the meeting. Mr F. F. Trapski moved and Mr A. Herron seconded: “That the meeting favours Government purchase of the scheme.”

An amendment, moved by Mr S. B. Edwards and seconded by Mr James Cunningham, “That the ratepayers retain the scheme,” was carried by an overwhelming majority, only the mover and seconder of the motion voting against it.

HOSPITAL BOARD NOT TO VOTE

AN AMENDMENT DEFEATED.

The Southland Hospital Board decided yesterday not to record its vote in the referendum on the question whether the assets and liabilities of the Southland Electric Power Board should or should not be taken over by the Government.

This opinion was reached after a brief but animated discussion in which members generally expressed the opinion that it would be too difficult a matter to arrive at a decision as to how the board should vote. The chairman, Mr T. Golden, said that the “one man, one vote” system would mean that members would have to ballot to decide how one authorized member could vote. It was not likely that the board would be unanimous on the power scheme question. On the motion of the Mayor, Mr John Miller, it was decided that the board’s vote should not be recorded. An amendment by Mr F. F. Trapski that Mr J. W. Miller should be given authority to vote for the board was lost. The discussion closed on Mr W. Grieve’s remark: “We don’t want to run any risk of that £25 fine.”