Power Board Has An Open Mind

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 9

Power Board Has An Open Mind

METROPOLITAN REFORMS RATEPAYERS’ INTERESTS WHAT attitude does the Auckland Power Board adopt toward reforms of method and amalgamation in local government? Mr. S. T. Crookes brought motions before tha,t body yesterday asking it to oppose any loss of its own identity. His motions were defeated after a considerable amount of scorn had been poured upon them by various members. Crookes moved two resolutions, which stated that the board was opposed to any proposal which Involved the loss of its identity as a separate and independent local authority, and was also opposed to any proposal to associate it with or amalgamate it with any other local authority. He supported the resolutions, briefly referring to the size of the board’s undertaking and the peculiar nature of the business it was constituted to transact. It was a specialised business, and should have its policies shaped by men who had taken a special interest in it. REMARKABLE RESOLUTION In the lull, before Mr. M. J. Bennett seconded Mr. Crookes, Mr E. 11. Potter inquired if there was anything before the meeting, and Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, in the chair, said that there was “a most remarkable resolution,” which sought to tie the hands of the board from considering the ratepayers’ interests. Mr. T. Bloodworth then charged into the discussion. Mr. Crookes had not given the resolutions enough thought, or he would not have moved them. For parallels in history, Mr. Bloodworth harked back to King Canute and the law's of the Medes and Persians, “which altereth not.” Though there might be progress and advancement in every direction, the resolutions, if passed, would in effect say that the board could not progress, whatever happened. He assumed that, the resolutions had their origin in the scheme which had been publicly discussed for altering the metropolitan government. He knew of three schemes which had been considered, only one of which had been made public. Mr. Bloodworth pointed out that the very Act which created the board gave the Government a means of wiping it out. at any time. Mr. Crookes’s motion “was not worth the paper it was written on.” It was a very illadvised resolution, which, if the board adopted, would put it in the position of the tuatara lizard, which had remained the same for thousands of years. Mr. S. J. Harbutt moved as an amendment that the board was prepared to discuss any scheme in the interests of the ratepayers. The motion was a direct hit at progress, on which the board was asked to shut the door. Mr. Crookes was fnly raising bogies to knock them down again, because of the thought in the public mind to-day that some change was necessary in the form of municipal government. The amendment only bound the board to keep an open mind. Mr. H. T. Goldie seconded the amendment. THE LIGHT OF DAY In defence of his resolutions, Mr. Crookes said that they were intended to be as remarkable as they had been described. He wished to get the opinions of members of the board. His resolutions did not shut the door on progress. The advance of the board justifies the ideal of keeping it wholly separate in entity and identity. If eletric power business was mixed up with other functions of local government, it would not get the consideration due to it. Why he brought the resolution before the meeting was because of the schemes for amalgamation with which the names of Mr. Potter, Mr. Bloodworth and Mr. Holdsworth were associated. He wanted to drag them out into the light of day. Mr. Holdsworth: As Mr. Crockes has brought in my name, I wish to point out that he is a member of the body which prevented the metropolitan government scheme from getting the light of day. Mr. Bennett protested. Mr. Crookes: With all due respect to you, that is not a correct statement of fact. Mr. Holdsworth referred to the deputation which had asked that the scheme be discussed at the Town Planning Conference, and had “been turned down flat” by the Mayor of Auckland.

The amendment was carried by eight votes to four.