POWER BOARD LOANS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18653, 23 August 1930, Page 5

POWER BOARD LOANS.

APPLICATION TO LOCAL LOANS BOARD. PROPOSED INCREASED DEVELOPMENT. Owing to a question of procedure and order having been raised in connection with the motions passed by the South Canterbury Ele.tric Power Board, for the authorisation of application for a loan of £113,900 for electrical development in its district, a special meeting of the Board was held yesterday morning to validate the position. There were present—Messrs J. Kennedy (chairman), G. Saunders. J South. A. N. Oakey. H. J. Mathers. W. E. Mills, W. Angland and B. R. Macdonald. Mr C. E. Kerr, who gave notice of motion at last meeting, was unable to be present, but delegated his authority to Mr Oakey. Mr Oakey, in accordance with notice, moved: — “That the resolutions concerning the Board’s loan proposals to the Local Government Loans Board carried at its meetings held on June 10th and August 12th, 1930, be rescinded." This was seconded by Mr South, and carried unanimously. A motion, notice of which had been given by Mr Kerr, at last meeting, was then moved by Mr Oakey, as follows: “That the South Canterbury Electric Power Boai’d apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to raise by way of a poll of the ratepayers, the sum of £113,900 for the following purposes:—The normal development of existing electrical distribution and the construction of electric works as defined in the Electric Power Boards Act, 1925, for the supply and distribution of electricity in the South Cantei'bury Electric Power Board’s area (exclusive of Timaru Borough Council license area), as delineated on plans marked p.w.d. Nos. 55648 and 71034 deposited in the office of the j Minister of Public Works at Welling- : ton, and defined by proclamation pub- j lished in the New Zealand Gazette No. ! 76, of the 26th October 1922, and New Zealand Gazette No. 19, of the Bth March 1928.” Consolidation Desired. Mr Macdonald said that it appeared to him the Board was taking a l'isk in placing the poll in the hands of the whole district, instead of confining it to the separate districts. If cne district were opposed to the proposals it might mean the blocking of the loan in view of the necessity for a 3-sths majority. "Although I can see the good in taking a poll over the whole district, it seems to me like taking the bull by the horns,” said Mr Macdonald. The chairman said that the Board was obliged to take the present step with a view to consolidating its loans, which would have to coni 3 about in the near future. One phase of the position as introduced by Mr Macdonald would mean that if any district objected to participation and the loan was carried, that district might receive benefit by remaining out. It was desirable to have the ratepayers unanimous if the work of the Board was to progress. The engineer-secretary (Mr G. W. Morrison) explained that the Board could not spend a penny on main lines in one area without another area i*eceiving benefit. The motion, which was seconded by Mr Mills, was carried unanimously.