"ONLY A PICNIC"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 187, 25 August 1937, Page 12

"ONLY A PICNIC"

Value of Power Conferences Questioned DANNEVIRKE CRITICISM The contention that power board conferences were a waste of time an3 that they were only a picnic for nxost of the delegates was advanced by Mr. J. Elder at yesterday's monthJy meeting of the Dannevirke Power Boarcl, when the matter of instructing the board 's delegates how to vote on the question of a Dominion award for supply authorities' employees was being considered. Mr. H. Eredricksou supported Mr. Elder, stating that he had always been opposed to any of these conferences — power boards, local bodies or otherwise. The chairman (Mr. M. 0., Grainger) believed that there was some good from these conferences in spite of the faet that a lot of nonsense was sometifiles talked. Admittedly, a few orators toolc charge, but it was frequently found that when the vote was taken it went against the orators. Mr. W. Jenkins agreed with the chairman that the conferences were productive of some good. Mr. H. Eredrickson: The sooner the conferences are done away with the better. The chairman: There are very many busy men who don't go to the conferences for a holiday. Mr. H. P. Horne said his own opinion was that the conferences were held too frequently. It would be preferable if they were held once in three or even live years. Mr. Elder maintained that ,the conferences were unnecessary. The remits carried were1 not worth a tin of fish. Anyway they were pigeon-holed and that was the end of them! Mr. J. Elder suggested .that a remit be sent .to the maia conference to tho effect that only power' board members have the right to vote. The chairman: Don't you think that the engineer-secretary representatives would object ,to interfering with their liberty? Mr. Elder: That is the reason why the conferences are so useloss, Thoy have all the eay. The chairman: I .don't like interfering with any local body as to the choice of .their delegates. Mr. C. J. Hansard: I suppose tho delegates, whether engineer-secretary or member delegates, are instructed by their xespective boards how to vote. Mr. H. P. Horne said he synipathised With Mr. Elder, but rules had becpi adopted allowing engineers and secretaries to vote. The only way to get over .the difficulty would be to have tho .rule amended. Mr. Elder said the discussions concerned mostly staff matters. The chairman: That is a .very important part, too. Mr. Elder reiterated that the conferences were not run by the power board delegates, but by the engineers and eecretaries. The chairman: We might see the executive about it. Mr. Elder: Tou would get d little out of them! Mr. Horne: When it is all boiled | down we — the power boards — go on our own. Mr. Eredrickson: .That strengthens the argument that the conferenc/s should be cut out. The chairman: Well, gentlenien, who are going to be tho delegates this time? Apparently Mr, Elder does not like it. Af ter some further discussion, Messrs. E. Craven and H. Eredrickson were appointed the delegates. Mr. Jenkins: Mr. Eredrickson will come back a very changed man. Mr. Eredrickson: No; I have always opposed conferences. It was agreed that the secretary and engineer attend their respective conferences.