POWER BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170140, 17 February 1921, Page 5

POWER BOARD

FOR SOUTH CANTERBURY. A meoting of chairmen oi South Canterbury weal bodies was bold yesterday afternoon in Timaru for the purpose of further considering the qnostioh of forming a- South Canterbury .Power Board. Present—The Mavor of Timaru, T. Gunnion (Mayor of Temuka), B. R. Macdonald (Mayor of Geraldine), G. Saunders (Pleasant Point- Town Board), T. L. Hart ('Palmate County Council). C. N. Urbell (Levels Couiity Council), E. Macdonald (Mackenzie pbunt-y Council), ana the Town Clerk (Mr 1). Virtue). The chairman read letters winch had been received from 1 the Tarious local bodies (AVitimate Borough being the only one which had not replied), and said that they had all decided to join the Power Board, with the exception of AVnimatc Borougn. The next stop was for each district to get 25 per cent, of its ratepayers to agree to the formation of the proposed Power Board. Mr Hart said they would also require to decide upon suitable boundaries. On the motion of Messrs B. R. Mncdonnld and E. Macdonald, it was decided that a-petition should be promoted in each district with a view to getting 25 peri cent, of the ratepayers in eacii, to agree to the Power .Board, and it was loft to the Mayor of Timaru and the Town Clerk to frame the petition. Air Hart- said it should lie pointed out that, if any district did not. subscribe 25 per cent, of signatures that district would ; not join the Power Board. Each petition would stand on its own. “ Air Orliell‘inquired who was to determine tho .inner and the outer areas. The AJayor said that each constituent district would define it 6 inner and outer area-s. : Air Hart said there would be some difficulty in) fixing these areas, and it should he done by each district on auniform basis. Air (irbolt ’concured in this view. The Mayor said he thought the whole of Levels County should cOme in. After a discussion on possible boundaries, Air Hart suggested that tho local bodies should meet" in conference and fix their inner and outer arena oil a uniform .basis. • i It was decided,r on the motion of Messrs Hart-and E. • Macdonald, that tho County Councils should meet in conference ns proposed, to fix the inner and outer areas! (The Boroughs will not require fo .be represented at. this conference as they' will be . All inner areas.) Tile next " point discussed was as to how many members • should constitute tho Power Board, the Mayor pointing out that tlie membership must not be less than 5 nor more than 12. After discussion of various points it was decided to leave this matter over till the boundaries. are fixed. It was agreed tlint ' in" fixing the representation, population ana valuation must both be taken into account, and the number of members.should be fixed at next meeting. ■ • It was decided that the next meeting be held on AVednesday, April 6.