LINCOLN COLLEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 6

LINCOLN COLLEGE

BOARD OF GOVERNORS METHOD OF ELECTION CRITICISED (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. In no uncertain terms the manner of Mr M. E. Lyons's election to the Board of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College at Lincoln, as the representative of the Canterbury members of the Legislature was condemned at this morning's meeting of the board. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., whose seat on the board will be taken by Mr Lyons, went so far as to describe the election, in which the Canterbury M.P.'s were debarred from voting, as " the prettiest piece of jerrymandering ever put over since he had been in public life." The whole question turned on whether from the time of the dissolution of Parliament retiring members ceased to be members of the Legislature. Under the ruling of the director of the college (Professor Alexander), who acted as returning officer, members of Parliament were declared to be " civilly dead" and debarred from voting in the election ot a member which took place before the recent general election. Under this ruling the only voters were four members of the Legislative Council who were named as Sir Heaton Rhodes and Messrs W. Hayward, D. Buddo and L. M. Isitt. Mr Howard contended this morning that under the Civil List Act members of Parliament were paid from the date of their election until the date of the next election, and therefore they remained members of Parliament until the time of that election., Furthermore, he contended that even if members of Parliament were struck off the roll of voters, the two Canterbury Cabinet Ministers at the time, Mr Forbes and Mr Bitchener, should have remained on the roll. On this count alone it was submitted that the election was invalid. The suggestion was made by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., that in the circumstances Mr Lyons should resign his seat and that a fresh election should be held in which the present members of Parliament could participate. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to set up a committee consisting of the chairman (Dr Denham), Messrs Buddo and Kyle, to report upon the method of the election, and in particular to make such inquiries as might be necessary concerning the validity of the recent election.