COSTLY CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 5

COSTLY CONFERENCE.

POWER BOARD DELEGATES. PROBABLY £2000 FOR ONE DAY PROTEST MADE IN AUCKLAND. A lively discussion took place at to-day's meeting of the Waitemata Power Board on whether the expense involved in sending delegates to the recent Power Boards' Conference in Wellington was justified by the business, which Mas rushed through in a ono-day sitting. "The conference developed into a series of rapid divisions," stated the secretary to the board (Mr. S>. Brittain Bull), in his report, "and remits were carried or rejected without any explanation or discussion." The chairman (Mr. J. \V. Hayden): I endorse what the secretary states in his report. Mr. A. E. Greenslade: Is it a fact thai, there was practically no discussion on the remits as a whole ? The chairman: Yes, the chairman had apparently made up his mind to get the conference through in one day, and >.»: was strong enough to do it. The resolution were moved, seconded, and carried in rapid succession. Mr. H. H. Robert sem: How did he do it? He could not second the resolutions, himself. The chairman: He did that at times. Cost Auckland £30. In reply to Mr. S. E. Kcnnings, ,the chairman said that the expense of sending delegates from the board had been about £30, and there were 40 odd boards in the Dominion. All told, the. conference would probably cost the country about £2000. Mr. Kennings: It does not seem that the cost was warranted. The chairman: I am satisfied that if the same thing were done next year the cost would not lie warranted. Mr. Greenslade: Conferences were also held by the secretaries and the engineers. The chairmnn: Yes, and we must not lose sight of the fact that in past years the conferences have done very good work. Mr. H. H. Eobertson: Ts it possible for the boards by resolution to have the time of the conference extended? "It Seems Absurd." The chairman: Well, it seems absurd to bring delegates from as far as Invercargill and Auckland to Wellington for anything less than a two-days' conference. Mr. Kcnnings: The conferences of the secretaries and the engineers prevented a complete waste of time. The engineer (Mr. F. J. IT. Wilson) : A lot of the work of the engineers' conference wa.* successful, and a number of suggestions to safeguard the various boards were referred to Parliament. The chairman seemed very pleased about those recommendations. The chairman: That is so. It, was resolved on the motion of Mr. Robertson that the report be, received, and that a letter he sent to the executive of the Power Boards' Association recommending that next year more time be allowed for the discussion of the various remits.