COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY WILL BE AT WHAKATANE SEPTEMBER 25

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 93, 8 September 1950, Page 5

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY WILL BE AT WHAKATANE SEPTEMBER 25

BOARD PROTESTS AGAINST PROPOSED PROCEDURE

A strong protest against the proposed procedure of the Bay of Plenty Harbour Investigating Committee has been , made by the Whakatane Harbour Board, through its chairman, Mr W. R. Boon, in a telegram sent yesterday to the Minister of Works, Mr Goosman. A copy has been sent to the Prime Minister, Mr Holland. If the suggestions contained in its telegram could not be adopted, the board stated, it considered the inquiry to be futile and would withdraw its •ffer to contribute to the cost of investigation.

Here is the board’s telegram to the Minister: —

Whakatane Harbour Board representatives and a committee of other interests in a meeting yesterday strongly protested against the proposed procedure of the investigating committee as being totally inadequate and not likely to elicit the facts essential to a full and proper consideration of a matter of such great national and local importance. Firstly, September 25 as the final date for submissions is too early for adequate preparation of a case.

the only satisfactory method of enquiry must ensure that copies of all the submissions be made available to interested parties and a reasonable time given for such submissions to be studied.

Thirdly, thereafter the author of any written submission to present himself if called for cross examination on oath.

Fourthly, parties to be allowed, counsel and the committee be bound to make its finding solely on the evidence presented to it in open court and not on any departmental or other reports not disclosed to all parties. Fifthly, meetings of the committee to be held in public. A recent local body conference at Tauranga seeks similar procedure. Any form of enquiry omitting these elementary precautions against erroneous findings is, in our opinion, dangerous and contrary to public interest. If suggestions contained herein are not agreed to we consider the inquiry futile and wasteful of public money, necessitating the withdrawal of our offer to make any contribution to the cost of inqury, You stated at Whakatane on February 23 you would ensure full and impartial investigation, with all parties starting from scratch. This is all that we ask for but, without the adoption of procedure outlined herein, similar to requirements under the Commissions of Enquiry Act, your promise is not being fulfilled.

In view of publicity given the matter in other quarters, a copy of this telegram is being handed to the press.

The committee of inquiry appointed to decide on a port for the Bay of Plenty will begin its sitting at Whakatane on Monday, September 25, probably transferring to Tauranga on September 27. The inquiry will be open to the public but no member of the public will be permitted to enter into discussions. Written submissions will be accepted by the committee, which will call for amplifying oral evidence where it requires to do so. Written submissions from any persons interested will be received at the office of the Ministry of Works, Tauranga, up to noon on September 25.