Power Board Chair Again Goes To Mr. J.A. McLean

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1941, Page 4

Power Board Chair Again Goes To Mr. J.A. McLean

Acting in what he considered the best interests of the North Auckland Electric-Power Board, Mr J. N. McCarroll) at the annual meeting in Dargaville yesterday, ' did not go to the vote for the chairmanship of the board, withdrawing by the permission of his proposer and seconder.

Mr J. A. McLean was re-elected without opposition to the position he has occupied since 1924. At the two previous elections Mr - McLean retained his seat- by having his name drawn out of the hat after a tie in voting. Secret Ballot Wanted

When the election of' chairman came before the board, Mr E. G. Appleton raised the question of method and moved that voting .should be by secret ballot. The secretary (Mr S. P. Day), who was occupying the chair for the election: That cannot be done.

Mr Appleton: I challenge that ruling.

Mr Day.: The Act says that the election must be by open voting. Mr Appleton again challenged the ruling and quoted from the Act by memory. He had had legal advice on the question, he said. Mr McLean said he could see no reason why the vote should be secret. The question had been raised prior to the meeting and Mr Day had investigated it. Mr Day ruled that the ballot must be open. Mr J. H. McCarroll: What will happen if it is found after the election that it could have been taken by secret ballot? Will it upset the election? Mr Day: No. Qualifications of Candidates Nominating Mr McLean as chairman, Mr F. Elliott said that he had been chairman for many years. He was a resident of Dargaville, which was the centre of the board’s operations and he had the support of the majority of members.

Mr McLean’s nomination was seconded by Mr D. H. Cochrane. Nominating Mr J. N. McCarroll, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay said that most of the problems before the board were ~ regarding country districts. Mr McLean’s area was now reticulated while large portions of the country districts in the board’s area still required reticulation. For that reason he was nominating a man who had given a great deal of study to the problems of country districts.

Not Majority, Luck

Seconding Mr McCarroll’s nomination, Mr E. G. Appleton said that voting on the chairmanship in the past had not shown that Mr McLean had the majority of the board behind him. - He had had the luck to be drawn from the hat. In the best interest of the board, he did not think his nomination should go forward, said Mr McCarroll. It would place some members in a difficult position and he asked his proposer and seconder to withdraw the nomination, both agreeing.

No further nominations came forward and Mr McLean was declared elected.

Chairman Astonished

“That is an astonishing result,” said Mr McLean on again taking his place as chairman. “To be elected unanimously is better than being drawn out of the hat.” On the board were some of the mosf loyal friends he had, continued Mr McLean, who referred particularly to Mr A. J. McKay, who had been defeated in the recent election. Other members also had been most loyal to him and had consistently supported him against opposition. As chairman he had always tried to be as fair as any man could be and he claimed to represent the whole of the board area fairly and fully. If any member had a complaint to make he would endeavour to have the trouble rectified.

Not Time for Changes Mr R. Coates complimented Mr McLean on his unanimous re-elec-tion. “Well, hardly that,” interjected Mr McCarroll. Mr Coates expressed his appreciation of Mr McCarroll’s action in withdrawing. It was evident that there had not been complete unanimity on the board but he had kept his mind open and he would have been inclined to support any nomination which had appeared most acceptable to the majority of members. Especially at a time like the present, when the country was at war, it was not advisable to make changes. As commander of the Home Guard, Mr McCarroll would have his time fully occupied with that organisation and it was the duty of members to j see that he received better support in that position than he had had in the past. Mr McLean also complimented Mr McCarroll on his broad-minded action ■in withdrawing his nomination. Study of Problems As far as the chairmanship and conduct of meetings were concerned no board could have a fairer chairman, said Mr Mac Kay. He would be only too pleased to work with the chairman during the coming year, but he considered that more consideration and more study should be given by the chairman to the problems of the country districts, a position which he hoped would be rectified in future. Also complimenting the chairman on his re-election,' Mr Elliott said thatj there was a responsibility on each; member to look after the interests ofj each district, irrespective 'of. where! he resided, as well as that which he represented in particular. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £2OO, the same as last year, and members’ fees and travelling expenses were also fixed at the same figures.