A complete settlement has now been effected in connection with the Otago Rugby Football League’s property in South Dunedin. The whole of the purchase money has been paid over, and the Education Board took possession yesterday of six acres, for which it has paid £4000.
Demand on generators high
The coldness of winter and the gradual shortening of daylight are being acutely reflected in the station of the Teviot Power Board, where the machines are running during the peak period up to the full capacity of their overload. This is particularly noticeable in the local loading, which, in marked contrast to the Central Otago load, is anything but steady. Pending the arrival of the new generator, it has been deemed necessary, by reason of the increased demand, to request local consumers to economise as far as possible in their use of power for lighting and heating between the hours of 4pm and 7pm daily.
Leave of absence held over
At the termination of last night’s meeting of the City Council the Mayor, Mr H.L. Tapley MP, mentioned that it was the last occasion on which he would preside prior to the commencement of the parliamentary session. Cr Taverner, the deputy mayor, would take his place during his temporary absence. The question of granting his Worship four months leave of absence was held over.
Who’s right and what’s left?
Workers Educational Association tutor Mr George McCracken put before his students the following 10 reasons in favour of socialisation and 10 reasons in favour of capitalism.
The reasons in favour: (1) Natural resources should be common because they are equally necessary for all; (2) Economic freedom cannot be enjoyed unless all have equal access to the physical basis of life; (3) Private enterprise and competition have failed both to make the best of productive power and to secure an equitable distribution; (4) Capitalists are replacing competition by monopoly; (5) Socialisation is the one practical alternative; (6) Socialisation is in harmony with industrial development; (7) Socialisation is practical; (8) Socialisation is completion of the policy of regulating and restricting industry by legislation; (9) Socialisation will secure for the community the monopoly profits; (10) Socialisation would be more equitable, human, moral and spiritual than the capitalist system.
In favour of capitalism Mr McCracken quoted: (1) Socialisation would mean bureaucracy; (2) Socialisation would lead to inefficiency; (3) Confiscation would be robbery while purchase would create debt; (4) Autocratic management would lead to tyranny and despotism; (5) A State monopoly is more dangerous; (6) Socialisation would lead to public corruption; (7) Government management is inferior to private business; (8) While certain services lend themselves to socialisation, many would be destroyed if taken from private enterprise; (9) The function of government is to ensure private competitors observe the rules; (10) Socialisation is opposed to the instincts of human nature. — ODT, 3.6.1926
