DISCUSSION PROVOKED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 195, 5 August 1940, Page 5

DISCUSSION PROVOKED

SUBJECT OF LOCAL BODY ELEC TIONS POSTPONEMENT ARB OUR BOARD FAVOURS TERM EXTENSION A letter from the Harbour Boards' Association with reference to the postponement of local body elections provoked much discussion at the Whakatane Harbour Board's meeting on Friday. The Association's letter referred to a communication from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E.. Parry, who asked for the Association's views and expressed his own to the effect that a postponement of the elections would be in the best interests of the country. The decision of the Board was to advise that it favoured a 12 months extension of the present term. Mr A. F. McGougan said he felt that the members of the Board should give the ratepayers the right to an election, although if no elections were held there would be a saving of money. He was looking at the question from the ratepayers' point of view, although lie was of the opinion that the ratepayers were satisfied with the present board. Similar views were expressed by Mr J. A. Mitchell. It was the opinion of Mr C. T. Smith that the expense of elections was rot a big item and in the interests of the country the elections should be held as usual. The "Duration." The Chairman, Mr J. W. Sumner, said that if he had had to make a decision, failing the early meeting of the Board, it would. have been for the postponement, Mr C. A. Tickner adding that although the cost of an election to the board might not be >o much the aggregate throughout N"ew Zealand would represent a considerable saving. Mr G. A. Brabant moved that a short meeting of. local body representatives should be held in the near 'uture to discuss the matter and it could be left to that meeting to make i decision. He thought it inadvisable ;o support the idea of postponement 'or the duration of the war because )f the possible length of 'the duraion." Mr McGougan suggested that the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of ill local bodies should make the decision but this was countered by Mir R. Ruddick, who thought the Board should decide. Further, said Mr Rud:lick, the present Board should carry m while the war lasted as the memsers 1 'had a good grip of the business.' The Chairman said he thought the ratepayers were satisfied with the Board and had no grievance with the svork done. The final motion was that the Board favoured the postponement of the Harbour Boards elections for a period of twelve months from May next. .