An Act to establish an Association of Electric-power Boards and Municipal Electric-lighting Authorities as a Body Corporate, to be known as “The Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand,” and to empower such Association to watch over and protect the Interests, Rights, and Privileges of Electric-power Boards and other Local Authorities supplying Electrical Energy.

BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Association Act, 1930.

2 Interpretation.

In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context,—

“Board” means an Electric-power Board as defined in the Electric-power Boards Act, 1925:

“Supply authority” means a County Council, Borough Council, or Town Board supplying electrical energy to the inhabitants of its district by virtue of a license issued under section three hundred and nineteen of the Public Works Act, 1928.

3 Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand constituted.

(1)

There is hereby established an Association to be known as the Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as the Association).

(2)

The Association shall consist of such Boards and supply authorities in New Zealand as shall from time to time become members of the Association.

4 Incorporation of Association.

The Association shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall be capable of holding real and personal property, and of doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.

5 Membership and subscription.

(1)

All Boards and supply authorities that subscribe to the funds of the Association according to the rates from time to time fixed by the Association shall be members of the Association, and shall have the right to vote by delegate at meetings of the Association.

(2)

The annual subscriptions must be paid in the month of June in each year, and no right to vote shall be exercisable on behalf of any member at any meeting of the Association, unless the subscription due for the current year shall have been paid before such meeting.

(3)

Members shall be classified for the purpose of their annual subscription in manner following:—

(a)

Members whose supply of electrical energy, whether generated, purchased, or allocated, is less than five hundred kilovolt amperes.

(b)

Members whose supply as aforesaid exceeds five hundred kilovolt amperes, but is less than one thousand kilovolt amperes.

(c)

Members whose supply as aforesaid exceeds one thousand kilovolt amperes but is less than two thousand kilovolt amperes.

(d)

Members whose supply as aforesaid exceeds two thousand kilovolt amperes but is less than three thousand kilovolt amperes.

(e)

Members whose supply as aforesaid exceeds three thousand kilovolt amperes but is less than four thousand kilovolt amperes.

(f)

Members whose supply as aforesaid exceeds four thousand kilovolt amperes.

(4)

The subscriptions shall be fixed from time to time by the Association at the annual meeting, and until such subscriptions are hereafter fixed in pursuance of this Act the rates of annual subscription shall be those existing immediately prior to the passing of this Act, which are as follow:—

	£	s.	d.
Members referred to in paragraph (a) of the preceding subsection	10	10	0
Members referred to in paragraph (b) of the preceding subsection	12	12	0
Members referred to in paragraph (c) of the preceding subsection	15	15	0
Members referred to in paragraph (d) of the preceding subsection	17	17	0
Members referred to in paragraph (e) of the preceding subsection	21	0	0
Members referred to in paragraph (f) of the preceding subsection	26	5	0

6 Payment of subscription and travelling-expenses.

A Power Board or a supply authority which is a member of the Association may from time to time, out of its General Account, pay its annual subscription to the Association and the actual reasonable travelling-expenses of its representatives (not exceeding forty pounds in any year) incurred in attending meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee of the Association.

7 Meetings.

The meetings of the Association shall be held annually at such date and place as shall be fixed by the Association from time to time in annual meeting; but in case of emergency, or in case of urgent business arising, the Executive Committee may, and shall at the request of three members thereof, call a meeting at any time.

8 Delegates.

Boards and supply authorities referred to in paragraphs (b) to (f) inclusive of subsection three of section five of this Act shall be entitled to two delegates at the annual meeting of the Association. All other members shall have one delegate only:

Provided always that if any delegate represents more than one member he shall be entitled to exercise one vote only:

Provided also that any member may appoint a greater number of delegates than that to which it is entitled under this section, but only the number of delegates to which the member is so entitled may vote on any matter brought before the meeting.

9 President.

(1)

The President shall be appointed annually at the annual conference, and shall take office immediately after the conclusion of the conference.

(2)

The President shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote at all meetings of the Association and of the committees thereof. In the absence of the President, the meeting shall appoint a chairman, who shall also have both a deliberative and a casting vote.

10 Executive Committee

(1)

There is hereby established an Executive Committee of the Association, consisting of—

(a)

The President of the Association.

(b)

Thirteen other members of whom one shall be a representative of the supply authorities situate in the North Island, one a representative of the supply authorities in the South Island.

(c)

One member to be elected by the Electric-supply Authorities Engineers’ Association.

(d)

One member to be elected by the Power Board Secretaries’ Committee.

(e)

All members elected under this section, except the members referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) hereof, shall be elected by the Association at its annual meeting.

(2)

The President shall be a member of the next succeeding conference.

(3)

If any member is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee his seat may be declared vacant by the Executive Committee, and in such case, and in the case of the death or resignation of any member of the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee may appoint some person to fill such vacancy. Such appointee shall hold office for the balance of the term of the person whose place he is taking.

(4)

A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of five members thereof.

(5)

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the Secretary at the request of the President whenever in the opinion of the President a meeting of the Executive Committee is necessary.

(6)

Before each meeting of the Executive Committee the Secretary shall forward to each member thereof a notice of the date of such meeting, together with a list of the matters to be brought forward at such meeting.

(7)

The Executive Committee shall commence business as soon after the time stated in the notice calling the meeting as there is a quorum present. If there is no quorum within half an hour of the time fixed for the meeting the President, or the Secretary in the absence of the President, may adjourn the meeting until any later time in the same day, or such later day as may be convenient.

(8)

The Executive Committee shall exercise all the powers of the Association except such powers as may be exercised by the Association only at its annual meeting.

(9)

The Executive Committee may from time to time appoint standing or special committees, and may relegate to such committees any matters for consideration, or inquiry, or management, or regulation; and may delegate to any such committee any of the powers and duties by this Act conferred or imposed upon the Executive Committee. A person may be appointed a member of any such committee, notwithstanding that he may not be a member of the Executive Committee.

(10)

The Association may from time to time in general meeting alter the constitution of the Executive Committee as it thinks fit.

11 Duties and powers of Association.

The Association is hereby authorized to carry out the following functions and duties:—

(a)

Generally to watch over and protect the interests, rights, and privileges of Power Boards and supply authorities:

(b)

To procure legal opinions on matters of general interest to Power Boards and supply authorities:

(c)

To promote the efficient carrying-out throughout the country of the functions of Power Boards and supply authorities:

(d)

To compile and collate statistics and to take such other steps as the Executive Committee shall deem necessary for the dissemination of useful knowledge amongst its members:

(e)

(i)

To enter into any contract with any person, firm, or corporation for advertising throughout New Zealand the use of electrical energy, or to unite with the Minister of Public Works, or any association of persons having a common interest in the increased distribution of electrical energy, in making any such advertising contract:

(ii)

Any such advertising contract may provide that all moneys payable thereunder shall be received by, and applied at the, sole discretion of, a committee consisting of representatives from each of the parties joining in such advertising contract:

(iii)

The Association may enter into agreements with its members providing for the payment by each such member to the Association of a proportionate part of the moneys payable by the Association under any such advertising contract. The Association may recover from any such member the moneys agreed to be contributed as aforesaid.

12 Regulations.

The Executive Committee may, subject to the provisions of this Act, pass resolutions—

(a)

Regulating the proceedings of the Association or of the Executive Committee, and the conduct of the meetings thereof respectively:

(b)

Prescribing the time and manner of holding annual and other stated meetings and also ordinary meetings, and regulating the business that may be transacted thereat respectively:

(c)

Regulating the adjournment of meetings:

(d)

Directing notices of meetings to be given, and prescribing the form, mode, and time of service thereof:

(e)

Prescribing the manner and conditions of revoking or altering resolutions:

(f)

Prescribing for the custody of documents, and regulating the custody and use of and prescribing the mode and form of attestation of the common seal:

Provided that no regulation or resolution made under this paragraph shall affect any person, acting in good faith, taking or to take any estate, interest, or advantage under any document having or about to have the common seal affixed thereto:

(g)

Prescribing the duties of officers and servants:

(h)

Prescribing the form and manner of keeping and authenticating minutes:

(i)

Prescribing forms in connection with any proceedings:

(j)

Concerning anything incidental to the matters hereinbefore referred to.

13 Financial operations.

(1)

All moneys belonging to the Association shall, subject as hereinafter provided, be paid into such bank as the Executive Committee from time to time appoints (hereinafter called the bank).

(2)

No moneys shall be drawn out of the bank, except by the authority of the Executive Committee or of the President, and all moneys shall be paid by the Association in cash or by cheque signed by the Secretary and countersigned by the President.

(3)

Cheques payable to the order of the Association may be endorsed by the Secretary, or by any member of the Executive Committee on behalf of the Association, but only for the purpose of being credited to an account of the Association at its bank.

14 Secretary and Treasurer.

The Executive Committee may from time to time appoint a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be paid such remuneration as the Committee thinks fit, and shall be responsible for the administration of the ordinary business of the Association.

15 Legal assistance.

(1)

The Association may from time to time obtain such legal assistance as it thinks fit, and may for that purpose appoint standing counsel.

(2)

The Association may for such legal advice or assistance pay such fees as it thinks fit.

16 Contracts generally.

(1)

Any contract which if made between private persons must be by deed shall, if made by the Association, be in writing under the seal of the Association.

(2)

Any contract which if made between private persons must be in writing signed by the party to be charged therewith shall, if made by the Association, be under the seal of the Association, or signed by two members of the Executive Committee acting on behalf of and by direction of the Executive Committee.

(3)

Any contract which if made between private persons may be made verbally without writing may be similarly made by or on behalf of the Association by any member of the Executive Committee, or by the Secretary acting by direction of the Executive Committee, but no verbal contract shall be for any sum exceeding five pounds.

17 Liability of Association.

(1)

The Association in its corporate capacity shall in all its operations be liable for all its acts and omissions.

(2)

The members of the Association or of the Executive Committee shall not be liable for any act or default of the Association done or omitted to be done in good faith in the course of the operations of the Association.

18 Members authorized to make contributions to Association.

The Power Boards and supply authorities which shall from time to time be members of the Association are hereby authorized and empowered to pay to the Association all subscriptions and payments which the Association is authorized to require by the provisions of this Act.

19 Travelling-expenses.

The Association may pay the reasonable travelling-expenses incurred by members of the Executive Committee in carrying out any functions under this Act.

20 Governor-General in Council to approve rules or by-laws.

The rules or by-laws of the Association shall not come into force until approved by His Excellency the Governor-General in Council.

Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Association Act 1930