ELECTRICITY IN GORE

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 6

ELECTRICITY IN GORE

CLAM FOR REFUND ON CHARGES

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE

CALLED

A decision to call a meeting of electricity consumers in Gore at which the Borough Council’s negotiations with the Public Works Department over the refunds on electricity charges and the position in which the consumers stood today would be explained, was made at last night’s meeting of the council. It was also decided to ask the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to meet the council at the earliest opportunity. These decisions were reached following the reading of a letter from the chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr F. T. M. Kissel). Before the letter was read the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) said the matter was one they had dealt with all the way through in committee and he thought they should continue on this basis. , Cr J. A. Baldey moved that the council go into committee. Cr J. C. Ray: I think we should come out in the open. I object to going into committee on this. It is time the public knew what we were doing. They are entitled to know what the position is. The Mayor said they had not wished to hide anything, but there were certain facts which had to be taken in committee. , . ■,, Cr H. McQuillan suggested that the letter be read in committee and that the question of continuing in open council then be considered. This course was adopted and then the 'council went back into open meeting. . . The Mayor explained that anything the council might do could only be a recommendation and could not bind the consumers to any course of action, and if the consumers wished to take a Supreme Court action they would be at liberty to do so. The original decision was that it be a recommendation to apply for a 66 2-3 per cent refund on a five years’ estimate, but after the borough solicitor’s. opinion was announced the council in its reply to the Public Works Department said that it would recommend the consumers to accept a 75 per cent, refund to get the matter cleaned up. “From that day to this,” he added, “we have had no reply. I think if the case was taken to the Court the consumers would stand a very good chance of winning the da Cr R. S. Green said that Mr Kissel raised the point which already had heen dealt with by the borough. I think we should get on the job at once, he added. “These delays on the part of the Public Works Department are hard to understand.” He moved: “That the council reply stating that in view of the extraordinary delay it considers that Mr Semple should make an early opportunity to meet the council; ana, further, that the Mayor call a public meeting of consumers and ; place the whole matter before them.” Cr Ray seconded the motion, adding that the letter appeared to him to be pure bluff. Cr McQuillan: Evidently we are going to have trouble in collecting this. Why not make it a 100 per cent claim and go to the Court? The Mayor explained that the council could not go to the Court. Ha group of consumers liked to do so they could make a test case of it. The motion was carried.