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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19278, 16 September 1924, Page 7

ASHBURTON BOARD’S DECISION. A SERIOUS SITUATION. (p*n United Press Association.) ASHBURTON, September 15. The decision of the Ashburton Electric Power Board to supply the chairman, Mr P. W. Watt, with free power in addition to a remuneration of £2OO a year, may have serious consequences, as the Electric Power Board’s Act, 1918, seems clear on the point that the members in making their decision and the chairman himself have rendered themselves liable to disqualification from holding office, as well as lines of £SO each.

It is understod that the matter has come under the notice of the Public Works Department, and that its undersecretary has written to the board inquiring if the decision is as stated. If such is "the case he points out that the provisions made in the Act are applicable to such a case. Moreover, he emphasises that it is the duty of the board to sell the power, not to give it way, and that the chairman’s remuneration had been specifically limited to £2OO a year by the Minister of Public Works. The portions of the Act cited are Section 15, Clause (1), sub-clause (g).