POWER BOARD’S POWERS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9435, 6 October 1939, Page 2

POWER BOARD’S POWERS

EFFECT OF WAR REGULATIONS j MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS j AUTHORITY IN JEOPARDY? Whether the power given by war regulations to the Controller of Electricity meant that the board would be divested of much of its authority was a question raised at the monthly meeting of tiie Thames Valley Electric Power Board on Tuesday. The matter was brought up following a report by the engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod, that because of restricted imports from Europe further supplies of power switches were unprocurable, and that application had been made to the controller regarding continuing reticulation to the Waotu section and the Thames coast, and also for construction on the Kaueranga settlement road. “No reply has yet been received to our requests, but in the meantime we are continuing with this reticulation until advised by the controller,” added the report.

DEFINITION OF POWERS Mr F. E. Flatl (I’aeroa) asked the chairman if he would define the powers of the board. It seemed to him that the board had no power, and he pointed out that the board could not even dismiss an employee without referring the matter to the controller of electricity.

Speaking on the same subject, Mr \V. C. Kennedy (To Aroha) stated that the regulations seemed to him to be a lot of nonsense. He pointed out that if the hoard proposed to dismiss one of the staff the proposal would lie referred to an advisory committee set up by the Government. This committee consisted of three, of whom one was the board’s own engineer, who was an employee of the board. An employee would therefore have power to over-ride a decision made by his employers.

WAIIII MEMBER’S VIEWS

Mr 11. L. Houghton (Waihi) expressed the opinion that the importance and effect of the regulations had been exaggerated by some members. The purpose of the regulations was to conserve electrical materials. So far as the staff was concerned, the board would not dismiss an employee unless it had a good and valid reason; and if the board acted reasonably the controller would not interfere. He said the hoard should co-operate with the controller- and give him every assistance.

The chairman, Mr J. Price, said that the board still had full power to act as it wished. The only difference. was that certain matters had to be referred to the controller for his approval, lie agreed that the purpose of the regulations was to conserve electrical materials, and to prevent the disorganisation of industry. So far as he could see, there was no difficulty in the matter.