POWER BOARD MEMBERS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27796, 22 October 1955, Page 10

POWER BOARD MEMBERS

REMUNERATION FOR MEETINGS

INCREASE PROPOSED BY CONFERENCE

Members of electric power boards have been paid £1 Is a day for attendance at meetings since 1921. Yesterday the annual conference of the Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association asked the Government to review the payment and increase it because of present-day values. Sponsor of the successful Auckland remit was Sir William Jordan, who said that member’s guinea was reduced by social security charge to 19s sd, then was subject to income tax, and finally members would find difficulty in paying for a cup of coffee, he said. To a similar remit last year, the Government had replied that the only justification for continued payment of fees seemed to be the trading nature of activities carried out by the boards. Sir William Jordan said. “If that is so. a new position has arisen. We are now asked to take over the gas industry, a commercial concern previously run by a board of directors.” he said. "The Auckland Gas Company paid more than £2OOO in a year for directors. We are going to take it over for 19s 5d a meeting less income tax. The thing becomes a comedy.” Parliament had realised that costs today were not what they were in years gone by, he continued, and a member’s salary had been increased four-fold since he was in Parliament. “So they could not very well refuse us an increase if it went to them,” he said. “The business we are looking after is increasing by £15,000,000 a year, yet we are looking after it for a guinea less tax.” Sir William Jordan said that members of transport boards were paid £1 10s a meeting, and “by going into committee they hold another meeting and are paid another 305.”

An old Parliamentary colleague of Sir William Jordan, Mr R. Masters, seconded the remit.

It was supported by two members of municipalities, who receive no payment, but Mr G. O. McCutcheon (Stratford borough) opposed it on the principle that local body service should be voluntary and unpaid.