PUBLIC MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1926, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING

:—— 1 1 ! K I'M All A WATER RACE. On Wednesday evening at Kumnra there was a puhlie meeting to conthe i.ucehttse of the Government utter race hv the Borough. consequent on the Mini-tor ol Mines’ recent intimation that it "as to a so < , on account of an annual loss upon it of ';1(;(.I0 it vt-ar. There were Idly at the tin eling including drey County ( omieil representatives. Messrs M. Keating (clerk) and J. Crcancy and 1\ Domulhm (members). Mr A. B. Spiers (Mayor.- who presided. said the Minister had intimated a delimit 1 decision In sell the race, and as the Borough had pipes laid lor it water supple 1 nun the race to the touu. thi sale of I In- race to a private concern would he a loss to the town. The Council should take the race lor electrie lighting. Mr Greaney, while unable to commit the County, thought Kumnrn should secure the race. The manager of the race. Mr .T. liochlortl, suit! the Minister had been verv sympathetic to ;i local dcpttliition receuthr on the matter, lie thought it. would not he difficult to get LiiC rate. A company might louse and maintain it. lie thought a reasonable oiler from the Borough would find the Minister sympathetic. He detailed the electrical potentialities of the property. The Chairman could give Mr Greaney no definite idea of the original cost of llie race, nor what stun the State had refused for the Waimen race. Mr J. Cilbert said the Kumnrn Borough Council hail adjourned to seek an inspiration from the puhlie meeting. He moved that the Council he recommended to formulate proposals to ho laid before the Minister, for the purchase of the water race. and. failing that, the Council request the Minister to haiui over the race to any individual or company requiring it. If the Borough Council or any other local body was not prepared to buy the race, it would he stupid to object to its sale to others. The Council ought, tn he able to borrow and useilie* irate to 'generate electricity for Jiglit and power. Tf they kept out professional electrical experts it would he the cheapest electrical scheme on the Coast, dlto professionals might lead them into a steam scheme. Air Kvenden seconded the motion.

Mr Gilbert thought the Minister might give the race to the town with a bonus equal to two years’ losses and it would take it.

The Chairman supported the motion. Air Peever questioned whether the Borough could stand the cost of the race.

Tito Chairman said the upkeep cost was very small, and already the Kumara Council was paying half of that

.Mr T. Afcflratli agreed that the Government should he asked to hand over the race.

Air G. Burger said the race was now a " white elephant,” and tile idea of a loan to buy was ridiculous. The ratepayers were already taxed enough. He favoured the idea of a private company taking the race over. Tt might then benefit the town. An effort should he made to retain the town’s present water supply from the race. The Chairman said they had tn look ahead not backward, and the Minister said he could not guarantee the water for the town. The resolution was carried on a show of hands. The Chairman thanked the County delegates for coming.