THE POWER BOARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18218, 11 October 1922, Page 10

THE POWER BOARDS.

00NTRACTS WITH MEMBERS. £50 LIMIT PROVID»D. CONSENT OF AUDIT OFFICE. [by teleobaph.—-press AssocurnoH.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The House went into Committee this afternoon on the Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill. At clause 8 Mr. W. A- Veitcn (Wanganui) urged tho Minister to take power to subdivide a power district in order to, avoid friction in the future. | The Minister contended that ample' power existed at present to extricate the boards from any complications likely to arise. A new clause was added amending section 14 of the principal Act, repealing paragraph G, and substituting a provision " that no person shall b© eligible for election to a power board who is concerned or interested (otherwise than as a member of an incorporated company in which there are more than 20 members, and of which ho is not general manager) in any l contract made by the board (other than a contract relating to land entered upon or. taken or proposed to be entered upon or taken for electrical works under authority of this Act) if the payment to be made by the board in respect of any such contract exceeds £5 in the case of a single contract or £10 altogether in any financial year in tho case of two or more contracts,, except in special cases to bo previously ftp- j proved by "tho Audit Office on tho application of the board. In any such special case the Audit Office may authorise the payment and receipt of such amount as it flunks fit, not exceeding in the aggregate £50 in any financial year in respect of any contract or of two or more contracts." In almost similar terms provision was made for tho retirement of a member of a board who contravenes these provisions. j Considerable discussion took place on' a new clause authorising power boards to j enter upon private lands for tho purpose of constructing works. Tho Minister, explained that the power asked for was only similar to that given by the Public Works Act and tho clause was agreed to. The Minister moved a clause providing that a person may bo appointed a member of a committee under the board, notwithstanding that he may pot be a member of tho board. Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of tho Opposition, objected to this power being given to a person who was not elected by the people. The discussion was continued In the evening and tho clause was agreed to on the voices. Mr. J. Craigio (Timaru) protested against the provision in the original Act enabling a board to be , established on a petition signed by 25 per cent, of the ratepayers. He moved an amendment providing that the petition must be signed by a majority of the ratepavers. "Mr. J. Bitchener (Waitaki) and Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) opposed the amendment on the ground that it was difficult to get more than 25 per cent, of the signatures in country districts. The Minister explained that after 25 per cent, of the signatures had been obtained the consent of the Governor-Gen-eral-in-Council must still be obtained, so that there was ample safeguard. Ho therefore coidd not accept the amendment. Ho asked that the Bill should have a 12-monthß' trial. On a division the amendmentSwas defeated bv 44 votes to 14. The Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third timo, and passed.