DEMOCRATIC BASIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 23

DEMOCRATIC BASIS.

POWER BOARD ELECTION. ICUSXCXFAI. rHANCHISE NOW. AX IMPORTANT AMENDMENT. (By Telegrapl 1 -—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

As the result of amendments made to Auckland Electric Power Boara imendicent Bill in the Boom of Kepreatati»es to-nipht. mergers of that board will in future be elected on a muninval instead of a ratepayers' franchise, and one need not be a ratepayer to become a candidate :or election, the only mialiiication being that of an elector on the municipal roll. These amendments, together with another extending the ontional period within which the general election of the board may be held, were brought forward by Mr. Mason, member for Auckland Suburbs. He explained that the last-mentioned amendment was attested so that Anzac Bay might be avoided. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. 3. B- Donald, piloted the bill through the committee stage. It wae made clear by Mr. Mason that, despite these amendments, those who voted on residential qualifications only would not be entitled to vote at any poll taken on a proposal relating to loans or rates. An Anomalous Position, jfr. Mason said it had always struck him as anomalous that the Auckland Power Board should have a restricted franchise when every other Power Board in yew Zealand was elected on the popular'municipal franchise. Electors were sometimes surprised on polling day to find that because they were not ratepayers they could not vote for Power Board candidates. Mr. Fraser (Wellington Central) said tie Minister in charge of the bill should ajjree to proper democratic control. The Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, said he could sot eee how a consumer of current was not a shareholder. He would vote for the amendment, as he had always believed in a democratic franchise. If amendments were made, the bill in an amended form cauld be further considered in the Upper House. Contrary to Practice. Mr. McCombs said the Auckland Board lad obtained legislation the like of which lad not been secured by any other similar body. He hoped the Minister in cfiargß of the bill would not regard tie bill as his personal property. When tie bill came before the Local Bills Committee it was discovered that under the Standing Orders it was not competent fin: the committee to amend the franchise clauses, although it desired to do so. Mr. McCombs referred to the Labour Bills Committee's report on this bill, which stated: "The franchise for the election of members of the Auckland Electric Pswer Board is restricted to iatepay«r3, contrary to the prevailing practice in local authorities representation and to a principle now widely accepted." That, said Mr. McCombs, wae the unanimous opinion of the committee, and" "one could wish it would be the unanimous opinion of the House. Why should the Auckland Power Board be <rat of step with every other local body in New Zealand? He (Mr. McCombs-) hoped members would support the liberal and democratic principles of Sir George Grey. Mr. Harris asked if tie Board had been acquainted of the suggested amendment, and Mr. Mason replied that he had posted the board a proof copy of his amendments when they came from the printer

some time ago. Board Opposes Amendment. "The promoters of this bill are opposed to the amendment," explained Mr. Donald. "As lam in charge of the bill I shall have to oppose the amendment, whatever my personal views may be. I ragget that the best thing to do is to taka a vote of the House right away, ; as everyone has made up his mind on this subject. If we do that we shall get tirough more quickly." The Minister of Health, the Hon. A. 32 Stallworthy, said .he. stood by the democratic principles expressed by the member for Lyttelton, and would vote for I&e amendment. He did not agree wftl Mr. Harris that those mainly concaned were the members of the board. Bather, he believed, those most concerned were the people in the board's area. Tie Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Eon. J. G. Goates, said he was startled to iearMr. StaHwcrthy*s statement without giving any explanation or reason. The Minister had said he favoured changing $» system, thus taking the elective rigfrfcs out of the hands of ratepayers who Bad provided money for the building np of the Auckland Power Board to its present enviable state. That k*rd had reached the high-water mark of success and was the envy of every fcoerd in Xew Zealand. Now the member for Auckland Suburbs, usually so level: headed and progressive, was suggesting that steps be taken which might We the result of markedly affecting .fte hoard's success. A Labour Member: Good old Tory 'ifeCoafces: Now it is being proposed tat extend this" franchise. ■sfi» HcC-ombs: And make it the same e* every other city. Mr.. Coates said the real test was. tie operations and success of tie loard been jeopardised "bj the ratePajeia , franchise? 3fr. Martin (Raglan): The whole *J&g .;!waa a bad bargain for the coun- £?» "" They have penalised every coun«F|JOwer board- I'm a member of a P°wer board, and I know. ■&fc\ Goates said no member had the board could be improved *JJ".* municipal franchise, nor how that franchise could improve its policy, nor w aeia that policy could be improved. *& tiie House had was some vague talk "Onr-a member of a southern power "Wrd that the Auckland .board ihad ««troyed hia board. The fact was that had made a great success of «* operations. Why then this attempt tofcreak it all down? *&e Labour Leader, ilr. Holland (sar'wtically): What a terrible thing to B"*.the people, the right to vote. * Because of a Fetish. Mr. Coates said because of some fetish °f -one-man-one-vote, the House was *«ed to take the risk of destroying; the ■""■"i (incredulous cries from GovernSwot and Labour benches). 3fe Coates: Well, after all, it is tae man •who has pledged his property hag to pay the piper if anything ?Qes wrong , . Ratepayers, said llr. Coates, had been re sponsible for the flotation and success gleans and for the development of the "Ottd's operations; and yet the mover this amendment came forward a «noet in the role of a -wrecker.

Over the Fence. "When I hear a speech like that." said Mr. Sa.vage (Auckland West). "I am reminded of the bull on the railway line and the on-coming train. One could admire his courage, but nis judgment was over the fen-ce. (Loud laughter). • If the view expressed by the Leader o: the Opposition is that of the Reform party then save u= trom the Reform party. Why should we be asked to give the Auckland Power Board a right no other hoard has? I don't believe the people of Auckland expect me to do it. Mr. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) said the only fault he found with the amend- ] ment was that they did not go far enough. He would prefer to see the full Parliamentary franchise. After a protracted debate the amendment on the franchise clause was carried by 44 votes to 20. Toting. For the Amendment (44). Armstrong McCombs Atmore McDonald Barnard McDouarall Black Macpherson Bodkin Makitanarn. Carr Martin Chapman Mason Clinkard Munns Cobbe Munro De La Perrelle Murdoch Fletcher Parry Forbes Poison Fraser Ransom Hawke Savage Healy Semple Hogan Stailworthy Holland, H. E. Sullivan Howard Taverner Jenkins Veitch Jordan Wilford Langstone Wilkinson Lye Young Against the Amendment (20). Ansell Kyle Bitchener Linklater Coates Lysnar Dickie Macmillan Donald Massey Field Nash Hall Sykes Hamilton Waite Harris Williams Jones Wright