ELECTION PUZZLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 14

ELECTION PUZZLE

MR. F. S. MORTON AND REPRESENTATION TRANSPORT BOARD SEAT Because Mr. F. S. Morton represents six local bodies on the Auckland Transport Board. yet has tendered his resignation to only one of them, a curious position has arisen in the outer areas affected. The period specified in the Act for the appointment of a new member is drawing rapidly to a close, and members, whose hands are tied by what they consider to be an improper action on Mr. Morton's part, can do nothing toward securing a new representative. The position as it stands today is that Mr. Morton lias forwamed liis resignation to the Onehnnga Borough Council, which has asked him to reconsider it. On the other hand, when the Transport Board was formed, Mr. Morton was appointed as a representative of six local bodies—One Tree Hill, Mount Roskill, Onehunga, Ellerslie. Panmure, and Mount Wellington. “Each has an equal claim to Mr. Morton’s representation,” said a member of one body this morning. “Therefore the unfair position is that, instead of handing his resignation to the secretary of the Transport Board, Mr. Morton placed it before the Onehunga Borough Council—one-sixtli of those concerned —and we are left out in the cold, unable to do anything.” He stressed the point that although Mr. J. A. C. Allum placed his resignation from the Transport Board with the City Council, Mr. Allum represented the City Council and nobody else, whereas Mr. Morton should have considered each body he represented. Mr. J. Wood, the other representative of the local bodies concerned, remains a member of the Transport Board, and is also a member of the One Tree Hill and Mount Wellington Boards. Consequently, these bodies still hold direct representation, and have no need to become concerned by the present situation. PROVISIONS IN ACT “The trouble is that there would appear to be no machinery provided by the Auckland Transport Board Act, 1928, enabling Onehunga, Mount Roskill, One Tree Hill, Ellerslie, Panmure, and Mount Wellington local authorities to appoint a representative in Mr. Morton’s stead, unless he (Mr. Morton) resigns his office to the proper authority. “If the present position is permitted to continue to May 31, then Mr. Morton must, until he does hand in his resignation to the Transport Board, remain a member of that body. “In the meantime, it is suggested that Mr. Morton has no intention of carrying on, as he is leaving shortly for Africa.” , The clause in the Act which calls for an urgent clarifying of the position is as follows:

“The members of the board so elected shall hold office until the first Wednesday in May, 1931. “Provided that the local authority or authorities appointing or electing them may at any time after the first Wednesday in May, 1929. and before the 31st day of May, 192 9, remove any member or members appointed by such local authority or authorities, and appoint another or others in his or their place or places, to hold office until the first Wednesday in May, 1931, and the provisions cf this section shall mutatis mutandis apply to any such substitutionary appointment.” ,

It is said that the local authorities concerned could act upon this were it not for the apparent fact that neither Mr. Morton nor the Transport Board has given them proper official notice of the resignation of their representatives. Consequently, although the days are passing, and the time limit is drawing to a close, they are unable to make a move. “Mr. Morton is placing the local bodies in such a position that they will not be able to elect a representative until after May 31,”. added the member. “That being so, what is our position? According to the clause in the Act, we cannot elect a representative after May 31, and if we are held to that clause, the districts will be put to the expense of a fresh election. “On the other hand, if Mr. Horton would define his position, and place his resignation in the proper quarter —the Transport Board office—we can elect our representative without trouble or cost to the ratepayers.”