"WASTING MONEY"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 7

"WASTING MONEY"

BOARD ATTACKED. "TOO MANY MEETINGS." MR. DARXOW PROTESTS. PLAIN TALK AT WAITEMATA BOARD. „ Alleging that some members were attending meetings only for the sake of collecting their guinea, Mr. W. B. Dar-. low, a member of the Waitemata Power Board, made a vigorous protest at today's meeting when he said that the money of the ratepayers was being wasted by meeting weekly. There were cries of "Speak for yourself!" from, other members of the board when the allegations were made. Mr. Darlow gave notice that he would move that at next meeting the secretary be instructed to obtain information from other power hoards in New Zealand as to how often they met, and also the amount of the chairman's honorarium. He said the whole matter should be gone into thoroughly at the board's next meeting. Mr. A. E. Greelislade: This board has got down to work, and each mmeber is taking a keen interest in his district. Any interference in the workings of the board would be a great mistake. We have now got a good system, and we are running the board successfully. "I will certainly vote against any proposal to hamper the board in the excellent work it is doing. Mr. Darlow: We are meeting far too frequently and we are not doing the fair thing by the consumers. I feel that we are wasting the ratepayers' money, and also our own time. T have been on this board ten months now and I feel that I have done nothing. Frequent meetings may have been necessary in the early stages of the board's existence, but they are not necessary now. There Were murmurs of dissent from several members round the table, but Mr. Darlow refused to be silenced. "These meetings cost the board about £16 a week," continued Mr. Darlow, "and I do not believe we are giving value for our money. We are not doing the fair thing by coming here merely for the Bake of collecting our guinea each time." "Speak for yourself!" said several members at once. "Far too much time is wasted," said Mr. G. O'Halloran. "We find that there is a letter from a woman at Kaukapakapa thanking us for a cooking demonstration. Very nice, no doubt; but surely not a matter for the board." / Mr. Marks: All the work could be done If we met only once a month. (More murmurs of dissent.) "I admit I am only a dud, but some of the other members are also duds," said Mr. Darlow by way of reply. Mr. G. Trevitliick: Some of the arguments we have here are childish. They Would make even school children laugh. I agree with Mr. Darlow. The board eventually decided that the whole matter raised by Mr. Darlow's remarks should be discussed at the next meeting.