POWER BOARD POLICY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 March 1927, Page 2

POWER BOARD POLICY.

To the Editor of tho “Timaru Herald.” Sir, —In my last letter under the above heading I asked one or iwo pointed questions, the answers to winch, 1 firmiy believe, would bo of interest to every ratepayer in the South Canterbury Power Board District. That they were not answered does not surpriso me, because tho letter was not written by a wealthy, weighty and influential citizen, Lmo oy a man who is without money, friends or influence. All 1 have is a vote. Still, it is no crime to ask questions and, as they say in Police Courts and otho" respectable resorts, “ if the answer is likely to incriminate you, there is no need to reply,” so there is no groat harm done to anybody if 1 ask a lew more. Once upon a time, a gentleman holding an influential position on an important public body wrote me a letter which included" the following sentence, “whilst some men shine in an administrative capacity, others show bettm evidences of their ability by just sawing wood.” There are nines, however, when the pen is rough ter than tho saw, and I’d rather walch and write. J offered the opinion, in my last letter, ihat there were just two personalities in tire Power Board who really mattered, and to test the soundness of that . statement 1 will ask, through you, for the following information, which, in a well conducted public body, would bo placed on the table at every meeting," unasked, and for every monrber to discuss if lie lelt inclined. Can any member of tho Board answer any of the following questions? 1. What are the exact conditions of the agreement between tho Board and jits Consulting Engineer? 2. Are items of plant and material purchased on his recommendation? 3. Does the Consulting Engineer accept any liability or incur any risk financially, if his suggestion should prove defective! after being tried? 4. Has any work that lias been carried out under the supervision of his employee been considered faulty by the Public Works Department, and the Post and Telegraph Department? 5. Can any member of the Board say with certainty, who, iln the event of such a contingency arising, would bear the cost of any alteration or reconstruction that may be required? 6. If the Board paid, would the cost of such reconstruction be included in. the aggregate on which the Consulting Engineer’s commission is based? 7. "Who recommended tho purchase of certain unsuitable transformers? 8. "Were the particulars of purchase and specifications of these transformers considered by the Board, as a whole, before the _purchase was authorised? 9. Did the Board know what to expect ? 10. Why was it necessary to disembowel the bulk of tile shipment, and send the outer eases to Parr’s Foundry at Timaru to have, special brackets attached ?

11. Was the Board misled? 12. Has any information relative to tho foregoing questions ever been placed before the Beard in opon meeting for free discussion? 13. Has any information of any dcserintkm. that might he tho subject of controversy, ever been voluntarily placed be) ore the Board in open meeting at any time? 14. "Why is a member? t There sir, I will follow the example of a great man whose name will forever be associated with, the number fourteen and limit my questions to that figure in this and any subsequent letter that I mav write. —I am, etc., ROBT. A. GREEN. Temuka, March 10, 1927.