POWER BOARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1922, Page 2

POWER BOARDS.

PROPOSALS IN THE BILL. A Bill amending the Power Boards Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. Its clauses consist very largely of machinery amendments in the existing law. The Minister for Public Works (Mr. Coates) told the House that the Bill covered a great deal of ground, and some of its clauses would require attention. A conference of power boards was to be held in Wellington this month, and the delegates would have the opportunity to consider the Bill. One important clause, added the Minister, authorised power boards to combine for the’ purpose of raising loans, the security to be given over the combined districts. The boards believed that this arrangement would assist them financially. Another clause provided for the addition of areas to power board districts. The boards were given certain powers for the erection of houses for their staffs. The legislation of last year had made provision for the preparation of power boards rolls. The Bill proposed that the rolls of the ordinary local authorities should be regarded as sufficient. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) asked if the Minister would enable a part of a district to secede if it so desired. Would he also provide that more than 25 per cent of the people concerned should be required to sign the petition before any area was conrpulsoriiy merged in a power board district. The Minister said that provision for the splitting of districts would be dangerous. Members should not overlook the fact that although a power board might be constituted, it could not act in any direction unless the ratepayers authorised a loan. If there was no loan the board would soon go out of existence.