POWER BOARD FRANCHISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 6

POWER BOARD FRANCHISE.

To most people it has appeared anomalous that the Auckland Electric Power Board, which has done such admirable work in the development of the city and province, should be elected on the ratepayers' rather than the popular municipal franchise. The Auckland Board is singular in this respect, and be general commendation for the action of the House of Representatives in giving municipal electors the right to vote, and in making it possible for an ordinary elector without a ratepayer's qualifications to stand for election. In his interesting comment-on this decision the chairman of the Board refers to the special conditions that were borne in mind when the original Act was framed. Mr. Holdsworth, who thinks Parliament has gone too far, points out that ratepayers will have the right to say whether money shall be borrowed, but that persons who are not ratepayers will have power to elect men to spend this money. But there has long been a similar allocation of responsibility in municipalities. There is no suggestion that the Auckland Power Board as at present constituted has in any way failed in its duty to the public. On the contrary, it is generally accepted that the Auckland Board has maintained a very high standard of administration and given first-rate service. Despite this fact, it is to the good that the House should have grasped the opportunity of an amending Bill to widen the franchise and to give effect to a principle now generally accepted. As the Minister of Justice said, it is difficult to see how the consumer is not a shareholder in the sense that he contributes to the Board's funds; and as the Hon. A. J. Stall worthy pointed out, the democratic franchise has ever been one of the cardinal features of Liberalism. If the amendment is accepted by the Legislative Council it will bestow on Auckland residents a proper privilege.