GREYMOUTH POWER BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1925, Page 4

GREYMOUTH POWER BOARD.

A STORMY MEETING. ("Grey River Argus.") GHRYAIOrTH. May 1:3

The Grey Electric Power Board held its annual meeting last night, when there were present: Messrs If. Duggan. C. Uddstmm, I). Tennent, -f. OT.rien. M.F.. 11. G. Carter, I). Haybutt. W. I.eiteh, J. W. Gleenslade and A. Robinson. Mr .1. O'Brien immediately rose and stated that, owing to the death ot the Prime Minister. and out ol respect to his memory, the Board should merely transact the business that was absolutely essential, and then adjourn. He thought the appointment of a small committee to deal with tenders would meet the ease, lie would move ill that direct ion. ; Mr i|. Duggan seconded the motion. Here the Secretary Mr M. .1, Engarty) said that what was required first of all wa- tlie election of a chairman.

Ale-si.- liuybuil and I.eiteh agreed with tlie Secretary, and nominated Mr 1). Tennent, Air O'Brien : 1 think, gciitloii'cu. we could well hold over the appointment of a * hairmaii, if we merely appoint a ■mall committee to go into the mutter . f accepting tenders. I really think we ■ hoiild adjourn out of respect to Air Massey's memory, and consider the election of a chairman in a Week's time. Would that meet your views? M r Tennent : No, it would not. Mr O'Brien: Very well. then. You seem e\ identic set on the election ol a chairman, so I will nominate Mr Greeiisknle. At the ret cut election. Mr Gleenslade secured a verv high vole

indeed, and next to me he was at the head of the poll, lie has the confidence of the ratepayers, and it would be a good thing for the Board il .Mr Gleenslade were elected. Continuing, Mr O’Brien said that the best thing that members could do was to get rid of all bickering and go ahead with things, lie confessed, quite candidly that lie was disappointed, lie had been hoping lor a larger scheme, hut .seeing that tilings had progressed so far, the milv possible thing to do was to go ahead with the present scheme. Consequently, all members should go together, and work in the interests ol the ratepayers, lie was ol opinion that the old Board had been more or less misled, and the best: way nut of the difficultv was to appoint Mr Greenslaile as chairman. “However." eonclmled the sneaker. “I really think that we should adjourn out ol respect lo the memory of the late Prime Minister, and with the consent ol the mover of the motion, I will withdraw my amendment. To meet preset requirements. I siigge i that we elect a leiiiporarv chairman. Would that meet the

Mr Tennent: No. n would not. BACK ME CONK! HENCE. Al r O' Briett : Then let me tell you that this Board has not the confidence oi the ratepayers. Mr O’Brien also refered to tic blunder el the National Electric Engineering ( nliipanv. in presenting a reperl to the Board that was not worth twopence, and yet in tin' lace ol that, that Company was always favoured ill respect [o tenders. the speakei also slated ilmi il appeared to him l here was an uuiM i e>-ary amount oi haste in "1 11 n•. ii l 1 .1 i ll cclttnn I - -n.ned hell I’e the la t.' elect ion i sine along. Mr T. uii. ut : No! Mr O'Brien: In the minutes oi April 21-.:, il i- recorded tli.it the late chairman ami Air Perkins were appointed to -;gii rioi! la etwith the National Ele tin.il engineering Company. On April 28th. ihe night before Hi” election. a meeting was to be held to accept certain tender-. The speaker a!-n staled that. no mailer wTial us- brought forward, t here was going to he no " gel-out of the St earn plant scheme. MU TENNENT' CAI.I.EI) TO ORDER. All ih” time Mr O'Brien was speak-

in.'. Mi 'IT-iim-ti 1 kept cii interrupting iml.l Mr Dnp.y.m ro eto a point of older. Mr Dnggait : I ii-o to a pnnil of order, Mr Tt'iiilcnl, don’t keen oil inti'rici i iiiy:. and interrupt in .. Mr <)'l:r11• 11. |. ! s'.t-Ail the time lie has In ,ii -p j,iii-.. vim l ave In ,m inii'ri ii| 1 1up.'. 11 is not fair. Mr < i'|,rieu : Don't mind him. Mr Duggan. Mr ('a 1 1 1 ■r : It'-, a pity we can't do without this. The reporters ale inking

Mr Ilayhiiil : Why not yet alone vv uli the i h'l l ion nf a chairman. Mr ()’Hri“ii: I did inn waul to yo ahe.'nl with tin- eleeiion of chairman. I wanted to nay respect to our deceased I’rime Minister, and adjourn all business fur awck or a fori nip;h t. Mr Teiiiient. however. thinks otherwise, and i- anxmus that ue should appoint a chairman 10-night. Il the Hoard wants the eo 11 tide nee oi the ratepayers in loth town and country. they will appoint Mr Diveuslade. Here Mr taller look all opportunity oi v. vlcoming Ihe new memher.s of the Hoard, and in doing so expressed reft ret at the absence of Mr Doogan who. ho said, worked hard and lone lor the Hoard, and carried a la roe share ol the burden on his own .shoulders.

Mr Dllyeall then rose to second the amendment moved b\ Mr O'ltricii. that Mr (tn enslade he appointed Chairman, and thanked Mr Carter for extending a vvolecm.' to the new members. “Let id have light and power as soon as possible.” Mr Duggan. .Hear hear). “I am convinced that the old Hoard 10.-t the eoidideme of the ratepayers. Mr f!roenslud'.' is holding ptibhi- positions in Divymouth, and is boldine I hem learle.-slv. I don’t think we could appoint, a heller man. Mr Hnvhuti : On behalf of the country members. I mu t say that we have done our host. I move again that Mr D. Tennent lie'” appointed chairman. Mi' l.i'iteh again seconded. On a show of hands being taken, three voted for Mr Oreensladi' -Messrs C. Cddslrom. •I. O'lirien, and 11. Duggan. Mr Ten iieiit was thus eleeted chairman of the Hoard by four votes to three. those voting for him being Messrs D. Haybutt. A. liubinsim. 11. C. Carter and

W. I.eiteh. Mr Tennent, in thanking iho members for electing him. stated that it was easy to criticise the work of the Hoard. Whi'n the National Klectrie Company made it- ".lave blunder. it

made hl-t amend-. Mr O'lirien: Did yon -eo the report Air O'lirien : I don't seem abb

Continuing. Mr Tennent stated that three companies were now looking for power, and they would more than pay and interest and sinking fund on the Csti.iimi to he expended. The site chosen was a central one, and the Hoard wa- in an absolutely independent position. The late Chairman had been disinterested. He 'the speaker) would mu eh sooner change positions with -Mr Doogan that night. Mr Doogan had:

no iixo to "rind, and he (Mr Tennont) was very sorry indeed that he had lieen defeated at the late election. Alter the chairman had sat down .Hr Grcenslado rose and asked if he had a ripht to speak. The C hairman : We are "oil!" to move tin adjournment till next week and then you can speak till nipht it you like, and I will sit here all niphl to listen to you. .Mr Green.,hide: You should have thought of the adjournment: before, as .Mr O'Hrien suppested. 1 claim the ritillt to speak on this matter. Other members have, otherwise I would not ask to I: ■ allowed to do so. The Chairman: II this meeting stands adjourned till a later dale. I will sit here all nipht and listen to you. .Mr Greon.slndu: I have a ntessape front the ratepayers, and I claim the privilege of speakiiip. That mexsnpe must he thdivered to-nipht. The Chairman: Then we miphi as well have it now as waste time over

Mr Cri enslade: I eonprntulafe you <m heinp elected chairman. Helore i came here to-nipht, I knew it was a foreoone rnimlll.sion— that it was all ‘■cut ami dried. ’ and I don t think von have taken into consideration th< feelinos of the people at the election. Kepanlino the procedure id the old Hoard, I inusl say that there is a lot of uneasiness in the minds of tin* pen pie of Greymnnth repardinp tin- pr ■ (■eedin.es of the Hoard durinp the past two vears. It i, no earthly me pro reedinp on the lines ol the old Hoard We must take Hie people into our com faience. There has been "rave suspie inn i n the minds of Ihe puhlm. 11 has not lieen a potty suspicion. Tin system adopted hv the Hoard ha- jus tilied the ratepayers in l.oldinp tha 1 sii- pieion. \\ e are only direct: c>. anc the ratepayer- are ilm sliai eliolders, maintain that we should hand to tin papers a detailed report ol all mono; spent, and what ha, hecn done -o tar 'I Imre has lieen a lot of talk ahou reports, hut nobody has seen them. I there are reports, the public slmuli know i\ here thev are.

.Messrs (I'Hrmu and Duppan: Ilea, hea r. •• DON'T TALK TWADDi.K." .Mi Greenslade: If you are a pn vale eompany. and you do not lake tin shareholder, into your conlidenef:, where are volt pom," to land' I wain, to see an ileinie.ed statement ol expei, diture published. Vie seem to have ai raipned i'nirselves npainst each other: The Chairman : Who did it then Y Mr (I'lirieii: Don't talk twaddle. You did it helore you came into the meetinp. Mr Green,hale: It i- a very nasty leeliup to love. The Chairman : Then don't hrinp it any further. Mr Green,lade: Allow me to tell you Mr Temwiii lhal if you hrinp your side forward. I will hrinp mine. Ami wo should hrinp forward a report to let the public km.w what is heinp done. M r O' Hrien : I lear. hear.

Hater on durinp the eoiisideration ol tenders. Mr O'Rricii slated that the Hoard shoul.l take liave to consider tl:o lenders. lIanl\vo«n! mi'jjiit !jo wanted at once, hut surely the sti))ply of oenper cables could stand over lor a week. ! I<■ moved tlial a committee lie set tip to po into the tenders carefully. This was uot apreed to. The tender of Messrs .). K. Kedpatii end Son, at WIN I 11, Id. for tlm i. 'ill ol ha I'd Wood poles, wa, :m----cpi id. N : tie I ruder, were H-i-ive !. Mes,i - Turidiull and domes' lend •:' at Li!'! , for t!m '-u| ply ol i opper Wei !i! .■ rspi i,, 1 1 and Co's ieiider. at LAI I lls 'i|. for liiyh-1 elision in- ulnti, c s we, r 'C'li'iiimnded by the ellpiueer for a: eptnnco. hut Unit of Messrs A. D. Aile\ end Co ( Hull, r insulator-.) at LI 17:- Ids was no epted. M i lell 'lade 11 HesI lolled Ihe u isiloin of i his action, lie thouplit. that., seeiup then- was a dill'ereme of LA 10 let v cen the two t/eiidei's the lower nil" slim,ld have hecn accepted. .Messr, T u 11 1 1 Ml 11 and -loins' ieoder at L:W:i _'s was accepl-d for lev. tension in ulalot's. satjcsxv* -vKsxmazs tea