ROTATION SYSTEM

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19172, 1 December 1927, Page 8

ROTATION SYSTEM

ELECTING A CHAIRMAN.

NEW TRAMWAY BOARD'S ACTION. The first business of the new Tramway Board, which held its first meeting yesterday, was to elect a chairman, and quite a lively discussion ensued.

The general manager (Mr Frank •Thompson) called for nominations tor chairman. , Mr W. J. Walter proposed Mr John Wood, the deputy-chairman of the previous Board. Mr Svkes seconded. Mr W. H. Williamson asked if there was any hard and fast rule regarding the deputy-chairman being elected chairman. Mr Thompson said that the matter was one entirely for the Board. Mr Williamson proposed Mr I'lesher. Mr E. H. Andrews seconded. Mr J. A. Flesher said that he was in the hands of members but was not seeking the position. Mr Svkes said that it was an understood thing that the position should rotate and he did not think that they should depart from it. Mr Williamson: Why should we follow an old and hard and fast rule? Why? . . Mr Walter: Because it is a good rule. . Mr W. Hayward said that his own personal feeling was that to follow a system 'of rotation was not at all a sound principle. He was not throwing any reflection on any member of trie Board. A chairman should be elected on account of his fitness for the position, and he was not suggesting that any member was Tiot fit for the position. It was possible that they might, under the rotation system, strike a "dud" chairman. On the matter being put to a show of hands,'Mr Wood was elected,, and took the chair. The chairman, in returning thanks said that he realised that the position was a responsible one and one that took up a great deal of time. # Fortunatelv, he had the time to give to the position. The Board was up against a serious position regarding the undertaking generally. The public had been criticising pretty freely and some said that their position was due to mismanagement. Of course there were quite a number of managers amongst the public. New members would realise that there were a great many difficulties to face and he hoped to have the support of the members.