THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JULY 3, 1922. ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4435, 3 July 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JULY 3, 1922. ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

The disqualification which was last week placed against Mr. F. M. Strange from acting on the Board and chairman of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board is a matter of regret. In our issue of Friday last we published the particulars of the prosecution brought against Mr. Strange for breaches of the Power Boards Act, in that he, being a shareholder in a small private company engaged in trade, had by virtue of his office been a party to that company receiving payment in excess of the amount permitted by law. The Magistrate recorded a conviction, but in view of the whole circumstances (which showed clearly that defendant had acted with bona tides) he ordered the payment of costs only. That penalty would, on the face of it, be calculated not to impose a great hardship upon Mr. Strange, but the conviction automatically disqualifies Mr. Strange from seeking re-election to the Board for three years. It may be pointed out here that the Power Boards Act is unique in this connection ; other local bodies’ legislation has somewhat similar restrictions, but none carry a three years’ disqualification. It was obvious that the Power Board endeavoured to keep its payments to Willis Bros., Ltd., within the legal limit, for it was shown that while the firm received only £4O, two other local firms received respectively £256 and £3275. From that it would seem that exceeding the low maximum sum was an inadvertence over which Mr. Strange had little control, for the expenditure came under the emergency heading. However, with this aspect we are not so much concerned as with the disqualification for three years. This we feel entails a severe loss to the community, for Mr. Strange was a man who had concentrated his undoubted ability upon development of hydroelectricity in this district. It, was a hobby with him for many years Years ago he, as member' of the- Ohinemuri County Council, sought to induce his council to acquire an up-to-date plant (that was practically going a-beg-ging) with which to supply the j town of Paeroa and neighbourhood. He is the pioneer of the Thames Valley Power Board’s huge scheme, and mainly as a result of his energy, enthusiasm, and business acumen the - Board is in the good position it is now in as compared with other boards in adjacent districts. We feel that the Thames Valley community cannot afford to lose Mr. Strange's active help, and we are certain that his fellow members on the Board realise this. We put forward the suggestion that representations should be made , to the Governor-General to. remove the disqualification. In doing this we are fully aware that such a course would be creating a dangerous precedent, but feel that in view of all the facts ft would only be a fair one. '