LINCOLN COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 290, 11 December 1935, Page 8

LINCOLN COLLEGE

ELECTION OF BOARD MR. HOWARD'S PROTEST [ Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 10. In no uncertain terms the manner of Mr. M. E. Lyons’ election to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College at Lincoln as representative of the Canterbury members of the Legislature, was condemned nt this morning’s meeting of the board. Air. E. J. Howard, M.P.. whose seat on the board will be taken by Mr. Lyons, went so far to describe the election in which the Canterbury M.P.’s were debarred from voting, ?s the “prettiest piece of jerrymandering ‘ever 7 put over” since he had been in public life. The whole question turned on whether, from the time of the dissolution of Parliament. M.P.’s ceased to be members of the Legislature. Under the ruling of the director of the college (Professor Alexander), who acted as returning officer, M.P.’s were, declared to be civilly dead and debarred from voting in the election of a member which took place-before the reecnt general election. Under this ruling the only voters- were four members of the Legislative Council, who were named as the Hons. R. Heaton Rhodes. Hayward, Buddo and Jsitt. Air. Howard this morning contended tht under the Civil List Act, M.P.’s were paid from the date of their election until the date of the next election. Therefore they remained M.P.’s until the time of that election. Furthermore, he contended that even if Al.P.’s were struck off the roll of voters two Canterbury Cabinet Ministers at the time, Messrs. Forbes and Bitchener, should have remained on the roll. On this count alone it was submitted that the election was invalid. A suggestion made by Air. Kyle, M.P., was that in the circumstances Mr Lyons should resign his seat and that a fresh election should be held, in which the present M.P.’s could participate. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to set up a committee consisting of the chairman (Dr. Genham), and Messrs. Buddo and Kyle, to report upon the method of the election, and in particular to make such inquiries as might be necessary concerning ihe validity of the recent election.