NOTICE OF MOTION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 131, 19 June 1937, Page 5

NOTICE OF MOTION

Our Own Correspondent)

Heated Debate Follows at Power Board Meeting TWO RESIGNATI0NS?

(Frqm

WAIPUKURAU, This Day, Indieating that they couid not give their sympathy to the present policy of the board, Messrs M. Eyan and A. W. S. Longley announced their intention yesterday of resigning from the Central Hawke's Bay Power Board. At first they intended to resign a.t, yesterday 's meeting, but because they are in sympathy with a Suggestion made by Mr A. C. Holms to provide a fund to pay for baekcountry reticulation, they have decided to hold over their resignations nntil after the board 's next meeting, when a motion by Mr Holms will be considered. Yesterdy's meeting developed into a rather heated debate when Mr Holms introduced his notice of motion dealing with a policy to provide funds for back-eountry electric power extension. The chairman, Mr A, C» Russell, indi-c-ated that much' thought would require to be given to the matter, but he ailowed members to discuss the matter. Mr Eyan, who favoured Mr Holms' suggestion, indicated that he was never allowed to "get any where" with suggestions, for which xeason he intended to hand in his resignation. Mr Lohgley thought the same of himself, an(q after some discussion, both members agreed to hold over their resignations until. after Mr Holms ' notice had been considered at the next monthly meeting. In giving notice of his motion, Mr Holms said that the matter was of vital interest to the back-eountry settlers as well as to the board. From time to time the board has expressed the opinion that the same policy of reticulation should be adopted as had been adopted by the Government with regard to roads and bridges. K Back-Country Reticulation His suggestion was that the board should make plans for a fund to aid the extension of reticulation in the backcountry areas. The board had at present in its nett revenue the sum of approximately £5000 and, added to its surplus, the best part of £700Q. Mr. Holms thought that the board should lieep at least five per eent of its general revenue for such a fund, and at tffe present tinie there was £1400 in the special reserves fund. For the purpose he had in view, he thought that the board might well add another £1000 to that fund of £1400. Mr Holms then gave notice of his motion, which was worded as follows: "(1) That this board, by way of demonstrating its praetical sympathy with settlers and settlements at present isolated from the eleetrieal' supply reticulation of Central Hawke's Bay, and strengthening a claim for the inauguration of a Publle Works eleetrieal subsidy policy, resolves to make avaiiable, from" year to year, from its present and future aceuinulated cash surplus, a subsidy fund equal to 10 per cent thereof, for the purpose of aiding the extension of ti'ansmission and service lines into ureas wherein are prospective consuniers considered to be duly deservuig of such special assistance, haviug- regard for value (to the conoumer), distaitce, numerical and general cost factors. ' ' (2) That the limit of subsidy shall not exeeed 10 per cent. Of the cost of line erection and equjpment, up to a eapital outlay of £300 per coiisumer, tliis sum approximating the average outlay per mile on line jxtensions. ' ' "This requires very much thought, Mr Holms," commented Mr Russell. Mr Holms: Yes, it does. I *11 leave it to the meeting to decide when it sliouid be dealt with. Mr Russell; You can't conduct buh.M>ss on tliis board like you, can on some other bodies. To o© in order, we ;11 have to discuss this matter oi yours at our next mon.thly meeting. Mr Ryan: l'd like to say sometaing. Mr liouii'S is proposing to put moiiey aside for the retxculatiou oi the backblocks. .Am I allowed to cputinu© at this stage, Mr Chairman? Mr Russell: You can speak at the next meeting. Mr Ryan; X won't be here then, and 1 won't be here at any future meetings. Mr Holms: That 'e unfortunate. A member: Don't talk like that, Mr Ryan. "Getting Offensivo." Mr Ryan: It's a most peculiar thhig Uiat inunediately I say you should rediice auy guarantee, you speak aboui. stnkiug a rate, Mr Chairmau. Every cOuntry member of this board is sypplied with electricity, and as iong as ihe board is going on — ^ — Mr Russell: Tlie board is • — — Mr Ryan: Are you going to keep iutorrupting mu? Mr Russell: You 'ro getting oll'enslve, now, in denying this, Mr Ryan made rei'erence to a matter discussed by the board some time ago in ooinruittee, and a battle of words ensued between Mr Russell and himself. "I rise to a point of order," interrupted Mr Holms. "Are you going to foree -Mr Ryan to cornmit a breach by having to defend himself by revealing something that has taken place iu committee? . « Mr Russell: Now, don't get hot under the collar, Mr Holms. If you do, then I'll get hotter under the collar, and then God help you. Mr Holms: Yes. Mr Eyan: As far as I can see, Mr Longley and I have been and still are agitating to get tliis and that for the back eountry, but we might as well save our energy. I said on one oecasion that the back settlers have pledged their land and that they deserve something from us, but this board is putting nothing away for the back eountry. My opinion is that from the way the Hon. Mr Semple has been speabing, had you put money aside, we would haye got a subsidy. "In continuing to be a member of this board I feel I am not getting anything done for the people I represexit. because I don't get a chauce," added Mr Ryan. "Fm not going to dotain j

you .any loxiger, because I kuow I'm getting no where. But 1 want you to iake my resignation -on the grounds that I don't hold with the policy of this board." Mr Holms: Would the chairman be prepared to defer the matter of Mr Ryan's resignation until after tho next board meeting. when xny motion has received consideration? Mr Russell: Oh, yes. Resignation Withdrawn. Mr G. Pattison: If Mr Eyan had brought a motion down to tlie effeet that an inquiry be made as to the best means of suppiying energy to tk© back eountry, I would have eupported him. I doii 't liko Ihe f orui tho motion is in at present, Mr Eyan; X didn't givo notice of ifc. I'll withdraw my resignation until after the next meeting. "I'feel that I muat congratulate the chairman upon the sincere, way he has listened to what Mr Eyan had to say," said Mr A. W. S. Longley. "I intended to resign also to-day, but I'll hold my resignation over for a month,- too. Like Mr Eyan, I feel that I'm xedundant on this board." Mr Russell said that he jregretted that Mr Eyan had taken up his present attitude. The board had retieulated its area very widely and liad extended its power lines more than any other power board of the same size, "The only. thing I objeet to in Mr Eyan's remarks is a suggestion that" I'm fhrowing a blanket over the backeountry people' and am getting their revenue," he added. "I'll be sorry tc see Mr Ryan .resign from this board. As for the remarks made, I don't mind the members having a go at me as chairman — — - Mr Longley: No tears, Mr Cha4rman. No tears. Mr Russell : That's all right, Mr Longley. I'd like to oeo you in tears occaslonaily. Mr Holms 's notice of motion was formally accepted and will be discussed at the next monthly meeting of the' board.