GREY POWER BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1927, Page 2

GREY POWER BOARD

(Grey Star.)

Warnings have been given from time to time, in this column, that all was not well with the Grey Power Board, and that unless great care was taken the public would face a situation that would be far from pleasant. The disclosures at this week’s meeting of the Board bore out such warnings, and it is clear that the pre-election claims of some members of the Board are not being realised. It was loolish to send men to act on the Board, because they were personally “ good fellows,” or because they were “ strong unionists or had similar “ qualifications.’ The community may have to pay a high price for its past shortsightedness, and for the most part will have none but itself to blame.

Apparently, current is being sold at less than cost, not all the bills are paid promptly, and the domestic users remain coy. A campaign for more economic administration has been followed by the Chief Engineer’s resignation, and to save his salary a qualified successor may not be appointed. This may prove to be a very expensive “ saving,” and the Board should realise the risk it is running, in having inadequate supervision over an expensive plant. Part of the troubles now facing the Power Board come from having unqualified men as Members and administrators, and if tlie qualifications of the chief of the staff are now to be regarded as of little importance, the penalty will be inevitable. There is no desire to add to the Board’s difficulties by emphasising the result of past errors, but tlie Board and tle community it represents (especially the latter) should awaken to the fact that extreme care and skilful administration are imperative if bad is not to develop into worse, and worse into disaster.