POWER BOARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16819, 23 August 1922, Page 4

POWER BOARDS.

SYSTEM OF FORMATION ATTACKED. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON. August 22. j ‘f Why should twenty-live per cent of j the ratepayers dominate the position? ’’ asked 31 r Craig ie. of the Minister of ! Public Works when raising the quesj tion of the method under which power | boards are constituted on the petition of twenty-five per cent of the rate payers in the district. The Timaru Borough Council, which objected to the power l>oard had had its hands lorded by a minority of ratepayers and he wished to see this undemocratic provision removed from the Statute. The 3iinister of Public Works replied that tho Power Boards Act, which was on the lines of the Light Railways Act. was on its trial. Some boards had made a good deal of headway, and ha was proposing to hold a conterence of all boards and those where preliminary ■steps for formation were well advanced, when this point could be considered. He would take no action as suggested until the conference had advised him on the subject.