TURNING ON THE JUICE.

Shannon News, 30 September 1924, Page 3

TURNING ON THE JUICE.

WHO PAYS FOR THE CELEBRATION? A somewhat dubious reception was accorded by the Wellington Harbour Board to a request by the Shannon Borough Council for a donation of £io towards the expenses of a suitable celebration to mark ’ the turning on of the “juice” from the Mangahao iiydro-electric plant. Mr M, Cohen objected to the board's contributing, hot on account oi the amount involved, hut on principle. “It is not for the sake of the money, whether £lO, £IOO, or £500,” he declared, “but this system of levying ) donations from local bodies is wrong in principle. All the local bodies draw their revenue practically from the same people, so that it is the same people who are contributing oyer and over again.” Mr H. D. Bennett said that a similar request had found its way to the City Council, hut they had not rustled the matter. They preferred to see what other (bodies would do. In any case he understood that the Government was arranging to hold an opening function on its own account. The 'Chairman (Mr G. Mitchell) said that if all the local bodies interested in Mangahao contributed £lO, they ought to be able to have a fairly lively celebration. It was decided tQ hold the request over, pending inquiries by the chairman' into the nature of the function contemplated by. the Government.