WATER BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 188, 11 May 1928, Page 10

WATER BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL

POWERS OF VETO AND APPROVAL MATTER AGAIN DEBATED A DIFFICULT PROBLEM The much-debated question regarding the powers of the Wellington City and Suburban Water Board was again before the City Council last night, when certain sections of the board’s report gave rise to some discussion.

Yet another lengthy debate on Water Board matters took place at the meeting of the City Council last night when the report of the City and Suburban Water Supply Board was presented. The debate centred on the point as to whether the board should commit the council on any policy matter until the council had had an opportunity of expressing an opinion thereon. The part of the report which came under discussion was as follows: — “The board submits the following resolution to the Wellington City Council for approval: ‘That where differences of opinion occur as between the Wellington City Council and the board, the same be settled by a conference between these two bodies.’ “The board have to report that it has been decided to grant sawmilling rights over Block VI, Akatarawa, for the sum of 2s. 9d. per hundred super feet. No further cutting rights to be granted until a report is obtained from the newlyappointed forest officer.” Councillor McKeen said that any policy matter involving the City Council in expense should be brought before the council'by its representatives before committing the council to it. He moved in that direction. Councillor C. T. A. Hislop seconded, saying he considered it a proper procedure. . it _ The Mayor: In this case they are not delegates going to a conference. Councillor Hislop said he thought the council’s representatives should not commit the council to any important matters of policy upon which they had not obtained the opinion of the council. Some doubts were raised as to the question of milling and opossum rights, and he thought the motion was in the right direction. Burden of Cost. The council should have the order paper of the business to be done before the board met, whereas now the board met and forwarded their report for the council’s approval, said Councillor J. Burns. He did not wish to tie the hands of the delegates, but the city was responsible for 80 per cent, of this undertaking, and for five delegates to have the power to commit the whole council was not quite right. If the council considered matters of policy first then the delegates would have their hands strengthened at the meeting of the board. "Great Amount of Distrust.” It implied a great amount of distrust upon the council’s delegates tt> bring forward motions of this kind, said Councillor Morpeth. He referred to remarks of a distrustful nature made by Councillor Semple. He could not understand why this unfortunate Board of Control was brought up for criticism at every meeting. He was not disposed to cut down trees or abuse the trust placed in their hands any more than he would cut down trees in his own place, but he was not prepared to tie the hands of the delegates. Councillor Mitchell claimed the right of any councillor to express his views, and hoped that before any further bush cutting was sanctioned the council would be informed of what was proposed. That the council should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on matters of policy was the view of Councillor Huggins. Councillor Semple said he would feel much more comfortable if he knew he was expressing the wishes of the council on matters which came before the board, which would give a greater degree of unanimity. At present these matters were brought before the board, the members of which had had no opportunity of considering them, and had to come to a decision. It would be fatal if the council did not possess the power of veto in matters involving the expenditure of thousands of pounds. A Modus Operand!.

Councillor 11. D. Bennett said his view was that members of the board were there to present the considered opinion of the council, but the difficulty was how to carry out that principle under the present circumstances. It meant that before any matter was dealt with by the board it must come before the council. He thought the principle of the motion could be carried out -by the present ’ conditions. The board might pass a resolution which would come up for ratification by the council, which was what was desired. Some councillors wanted the council to take the initial step and have the board confirm it, but he did not think that was the right way. While agreeing with the motion, he did not think the modus operand! was right. He suggested that the resolution from the board be altered to read: “That where differences of. opinion occur as between the Wellington City Council and the. board, the same be referred to a conference of the two bodies.” He also suggested that the word “considered” be substituted for'the word “granted” in regard to the question of “granting further cutting rights.” The Mayor's Views. The Mayor remarked that it was necessary for the council and the board to work in unison, because the suburban districts would one day be included in one large metropolitan area which this water reserve would serve. There would be a risk of setting up a council party and the other party, and it would not be good for the scheme. It would be possible for the council's representatives to be-in a minority. The council’s representatives had been appointed to give that closer attention to the work of the board that the council could not give to the many boards on which it was represented. While the council hnd power of veto, the board had power of approval, and the council could not insist on anything of which the board did not approve. He could not imagine that any member of the board would give away city rights. Surely the matter of the opossums was not a matter of policy. He assured the council that on all matters of policy and finance the council would be consulted before it was committed. Motion Defeated. Councillor McKeen thought it was due to the council that an expression of opinion should be obtained on all policy matters before they went to the board. If they went to the board without such consideration they would find themselves at odds with certain matters, that cropped up. He maintained that if his resolution were carried it would render the appointment of managers unnecessary, as he maintained that their managers would have to report as to what had been agreed upon. The motion was lost by 9 votes to G.