COUNTY VOTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 15

COUNTY VOTERS

POWER BOARD ELECTION REMOVAL OF ANOMALY COMMUNITY LIGHTING PLANS [BY TELEGRAm —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Tuesday The removal of an anomaly in the franchise and the validating of an arrangement with regard to community lighting were effected as a result of the passing of the Auckland ElectricPower Board Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-dav.

In the absence of the AttorneyGeneral, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, who introduced the bill, the j\linister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. 10. Parry, moved the second reading. There were only two clauses in the bill, he said, one of which rectified an anomaly with regard to tho franchise, while the other enabled arrangements to be* made with local bodies concerning community lighting. An amending bill last session had been designed-to provide for universal franchise for elections in the board's district, but owing to the fact that one section of the original Act had not been eliminated considerable difficulty had arisen. Electors Unable to Vote

"The system of voting was changed as a result of last year's legislation," said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, "but in spite of that it was interesting to see that there was practically no change in tho personnel of the board. From newspaper reports we know that a lot of electors were disfranchised, but tho Minister has not given us tho reason. The change was supposed to have resulted in a change of the personnel of tho board, but it did not so happen."

Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford): Very salutary.

It appeared that county ratepayers who were in arrears with their rates had been disfranchised, said Mr. Hamilton. That was a point which should not have been overlooked during the committee stages. Audit Office Doubts

Mr. Parry said that the Audit Department had raised some doubts as to the legality of existing arrangements, whereby the board had entered into arrangements with local authorities, which in turn had arrangements with shopkeepers, for the provision of community lighting. The bill would rectify that position and in addition would remove the anomaly regarding the voting rights of county ratepayers. The bill was put through nil stages and passed without amendment.

SOCIALIST TREND HON. P. C. WEBB'S DENIAL FARMS AND BUSINESSES NO SUCH STEP INTENDED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A further assurance that the Government had no intention, of socialising farms or businesses was given by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, during the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives to-night.

Mr. Webb said he had been criticised because of sentiments he had expressed in a recent speech at Auckland. In his address he had stated that private enterprise was being destroyed every day, not by Socialism or by the Government, but by the development of trusts, combines and big chain stores.

"I repeat that statement,." said Mr. Webb. "The small business man in most of the big towns is becoming almost as extinct as the inoa. We do not want to socialise farms. Members of the Opposition- know perfectly well that the Government has never contemplated taking any steps in that direction." Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford): That, is not what the Minister of Lands said. Mr. Webb: The Minister of Lands is doing one of the greatest land development works ever attempted in this country.

Mr. Poison: He says the farmer has no right to the freehold. Mr. J. O'Brien (Government —Westland): He has never said that.

"The Government has no intention whatever of annihilating small businesses," said Mr. Webb. "We say that the moment any industry becomes disorganised and is unable to fulfil its function in the community we have cither got to take it over as a State concern or allow it to gravitate into a huge monopoly."