Two Members Were Absent

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1948, Page 4

Two Members Were Absent

Moving his losolution. Mr Appleton said: “When the previous notice of motion was put before the board the mover (Mr Mac Kay.) said the present methods of doing business wore illegal. The board then suspended the motion for a month while the opinion of the Power Boards Association's solicitor was obtained.

“The solicitor said in his reply that the methods were legal, except for a minor point. Therefore no reason existed for the resolutions to be passed. "Two members were absent from the last meeting, and if they had been here those resolutions would not have been carried. The men are here today and have the opportunity to vote.”

“I don’t want to see the board split into two camps.” Mr Appleton continued. "The whole of the board’s area has been treated as a unit, and I don't know where any victimisation has taken place, but that will happen if the board is divided. We have the assurance of the solicitor that the previous methods were legal.” Mr H. Smith: I read in the North Auckland Times that our methods were correct, but I can’t understand

what the Northern Advocate meant when it said the board had put the cart before the horse. 1 agree with Mi- Appleton in his talk about the rift between the East and the West.

“We are put here by the constituents in this area and we should do as much work in the least possible time as we can. We should get the power to the people and not squabble about notices of motion.

“We are the laughing stock of the country.” Mr Smith went on. “If there is any more squabbling then I feel I should retire from the board.” "I agree with Mr Smith." said Mr Mac Kay. "I think it would be very unfortunate if. after giving this matter serious consideration and arriving at a unanimous decision on the question of committee work, these efforts were destroyed by rescinding this resolution.

"The framing of the resolution was not done by one section of the board alone. To meet the wishes of the members .Mr Murdoch and Mr Sterling put forward amendments which the chairman and others supported. I accepted these amendments and the motion was carried unanimously.