KUMARA WATER RACE.

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1927, Page 4

KUMARA WATER RACE.

GREY POWER BOARD. Enters Protest. Reference was made at the Grey l’o\v er Board’s meeting last evening to the negotiations which are alleged to be proceeding between the Westland Pow er Board and a private company for the purchase of the Kumara water race The Chairman (Mr. J. \V. Greenslade) stated that he understood that a privat company was taking over the rights of the race on behalf of the Westland Power Board. The Grey Power Board was strongly opposed to this action, and he had communicated with the Minis ter of Mines on the matter. Mr. J. O’Brien said that from the reports published in the Hokitika “Guardian” the Westland Power Board was negotiating with a private company for the purchase of the race. He said that if this statement was true the Westland Board had broken faith with the Grey Board, which had foregone its rights to the race on the understanding that the "Westland Powei Board was acting independently in the matter of purchasing the race. Mr O’Brien endorsed 'the (’heirman’s action in sending a wire to the the Minister objecting to the Westlantl Board’s action. He characterised the Westland Board’s tactics as “back I door” methods. After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. J. Mulcare, and seconded by Mr. J. O’Brien, that the Chairman's action be endorsed and that the Al inis ter of Mines be asked to stay his hand until the Grey Board had an opportunity of investigating the position regard ing the Kumara water race. The motion was carried unanimously.