SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 172, 3 July 1936, Page 7

SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

Will Not Accept Government’s Oiler. { i REASONS STATED. Press Association —Copyright. Invercargill, July 2. The Southland Electric Power Board at a special meeting yesterday re-affirmed its decision not to hand over the Monowai scheme to the Government. The l motion was carried by seven votes to live. A motion, sponsored by Mr. G. | Wraytt. to rescind the board’s previous resolution rescinding the decision to take | a referendum on the question was ruled I out of order on the grounds that the j procedure was unconstitutional. | Instead a division was taken on a report presented by the chairman, Mr. J. T. Carswell, outlining the board’s reasons for the retention of the scheme. Mr. Carswell said that after full consideraj lion they were well satisfied that the Government’s offer was unacceptable. I The one financial advantage it offered in addition to what the board could offer to-day was the elimination of the land , rate. This rate would have been enj tircly unnecessary if it had hot been for | exchange, which the Government was j pledged to reduce, and for the high rate j of the sinking fund fixed, which the | Minister declined to take any steps to vary. The total of those two items exceeded £35,000 annually.