ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER.

THE FUNCTIONS OF BOARDS. _ QUESTION OF FINANCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. «« - Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon tbe. Hoc. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill, which gave boards authority to exclude from the payment of excess rates areas which in their discretion derived no benefit from a reticulation scheme. Tbe Bill also m&ue other machinery- ann-ud-thents of the original Act. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) suggested that local bodies should be given power to go on the London market to borrow for the purposes of the Act. At present it was practically impossible to get money within the Dominion. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) urged that some method of appeal should be given to areas dissatisfied with the decisions of the boards to include them in a rating area. In his reply the Minister said he would go into the question of a consolidated loan for local bodies, and if Cabinet approved he would introduce legislation next session. He was under the impression that some form of appeal as suggested by Mr. Statham was provided in the original Act. The Bill was read a second time. In committee Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) moved a new clause empowering electric power boards to purchase land to provide housing for their employees. The Minister said he was s.'.Tapathc.'.-, and would include such a clause in s.:i amending Act next session, and on th.it, assurance the clause was withdrawn. The Bill was reported wiiliou- ame •<!- ment, read a third time arc! pasxed.