GETTING READY FOR MAY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 23, 22 August 1928, Page 2

GETTING READY FOR MAY

POWER BOARD ELECTION.

MEKTING OF RATEPAYERS

At yesterday's mooting of Power Board ratepayers at the Town Hall a strong appeal was made for support, of the Ratepayers,'' Protection Association, both funds and personal, work being required in connection with the forthcoming Power Board' election in. May next. No resolution was passed by the meeting, but those) present (oxprtesjsed agreement l with the remarks of Mr N. H. Moss, the president of the Association. The opening portion of the meeting wab reported in yesterday's "Post." Continuing his remarks on Mr Carman's statement regarding Mr Kissel's visit to Taranaki, Mr Moss said that Mr Kissel was credited with saying that the Taranaki. Power Board compai-ed more than favour, ably with other New Zealand Boards. If that was so some Boards must) be in a very bad way. Last year there were live Boards which, had to strike rates- The Southland Power Board had to raise £57,000 by rates, despite a revenue of. £70,000. This was the greatest muddle in New Zealand—a most impossible position. That was the only Board with which the Taranaki Board could be favourably compared. The other Board's striking rates raised only comparatively small amounts. The Taranaki Power Board was the only Board in New Zealand which! had struck an availability rate over the whole of its district. The Association had asked for an engineering survey .of tha position. A WIDE STATEMENT. Mr Kissel said the Board appeared to have every chance of becoming a payable proposition, but something more definite than that was required. The speaker could not isay how long Mr Kissel was in Taranaki, but it was to be presumed that he had gone into the whole position. As a lawyer, tho speaker could go through tho Board's figures and find that the Board's undertaking was not paying. If Mr Kissel thought it could pay its way, why didn't it? At thje election in May next he understood that several members of the Power Board would not seek reelection. The affairs of the Board depended on the men around the Board table, and ratepayers should see that in May next the eight best possible men should be returned to the Board. There was half a million of money invested in. the scheme, which was; the second biggest thing in Taranaki. So far as the speaker was concerned he was prepared to do whatever he could to. help ratepayers, in the way of freeing them from rates, but he could not con. tinue to work without their sunport.. If ratepayers were satisfied 1 v/th the Board, so would be be but he was prepared to continue his efforts so long as the ratepayers desired. THE "COMING ELECTION. The work before the executive now was the election in May. Money would be required for an election campaign.

Mr D, S>- Maxwell said nobody would. be anxious to get; on the Board. The scheme was a dead horse. Mr Moss said that was true, but somebody must manage the Board's affairs. It was a, matter of public duty, and men should come forward with a desire to make the undertaking a success.

Mr W. Nicliol said the availability rate was hitting the poor man very hard. The present availability rate would soon cease to be useful, and the solution would he a general rate, with a smaller availability rate. The loss had to be paid for, but there were different ways of paying, . and the Board's scheme would be a payable proposition, in time to come. Funds were needed by the Association. Money was required to fight the Act as regards the availability rate. Mr E -W. Hancock said that the cost of installing electricity left the ratepayers very little money to spare. Mr Moss agreed with th,is viewHe said the cost to each ratepayer for installing the current was from £SO to £IOO, so that the sum required if all ratepayers connected up with the scheme would be enormous. TOO MUCH APATHY. Mr W. A. Hewitt said ratepayers deserved everything they got, in view of the apathy, as shown by the poor attendance at the meeting. The position was very bad. If every ratepayer was connected up the Board would still require £IB,OOO over its revenue. Mr N. B. Fryday said (at least( £3OO was requiredl to carry on the operations of the Association. Mr Moss pointed out that the results sought by the Association would be best obtained by putting in a good Board at next election. There would be no necessity for any outside inveg-

ligation. A thorough investigation could be made by Board members. Some ratepayers asked win it the Association intended to do. Well, one never knew till one tried, but the Association must have the support of; ratepayers. There would be some difficulty in getting people to 1 stand for the Board, and only a strong on ganisation, able to promiso isolitl snpport, could get men of the proper standing to stand for election. Mr Hancock asked if Mr Moss could! stand for the Bo! ml. Mr Moss: 1 could very easily qualify. ' STRAIGHTEN" THE MUDDLE. Mr H. A. Hunt said that unless the ratepayers got behind the Association confusion would become worse confounded. At the election in May the ratepayers should see that «i good Board was elected to straighten out the muddle. Souething must be dtone at' an early (lite. Mr Hancock said perhaps soma farmers bad net worked out what the Board.cost them. He had worked ib out in his own case, «"<! he found that the Board rate came to 8s per acre.

Mr Hunt stated tb'it in his case i*i 'was equal to putting a mortgage o M £7 10s per acre at 5 perlieht. on bis farm.

Mr Mos said he had received) letters from a number of ratepayers. In the case of a man (aged 80) and biff wife (aged 75) who Wad. a. farm, of fourteen acres the availability rate was £l4—£l per acre. Another farm of 32 acre s paid £1.5 in availability rate—los uer acre. A survey of the district should be made to .show whether or not it was possible for the Board's district toi prodluce cv revenue of £48,000 per annum. AVAILABILITY RATE DOOMED. There was no objection to the availability rate, fi o long as it wa s applied reasonably. <- T mvever, he did not see that the rate could be continued after the present year. The executive would keep a close eye on the Board's affairs, and if necessary, further meetingsi would! Be called to make arrangements for the Board election. It might not bo necessary to fight •very bard. Perhaps th° Assodat-t ion's candidates would be the only ones noimnated. If be thought bo could be of any use he would be) pleased to qualify so that he would bo available for election. He had been requested to stand, but he could/ not work under the present chairman and he must have an Association ticket of men to support him on the Board. It wa s no uso a man going] on the Board to 'fight continually against a majority. Mr Hewitt thought the Board's ljatcs meant a, mortgage of £lO an acre on all band in the Board's district. It would bo a good idleaii! there wa s a Supreme Court inquiry before the Board election. He understood that the buying and selling of material by the Board was very unsatisfactory, and should be gated. Mr Nichol thought thfat if all ratepayers P aicl 5s eacll tnis woul d pvo " vidja sufficient funds for the' Assow ciation. The executive could work wonders if fifty or sixty ratepayers put in £1 each. The meeting closed with a vote °& thanks to the speaker and to the executive.