CATCHMENT BOARD DISPUTE

Chronicle (Levin), 27 November 1946, Page 3

CATCHMENT BOARD DISPUTE

CHAIRMAN'S THREAT TO RESIGN Following a serious dispute with Mr. J. B. .Crystall at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu Catchment Board at Palmerston North recently, Mr. J. T. J. Heatley announced his intention of resigning from the office of chairman. During the course of the lengthy discussion which took place, it became apparent that Mr. Heatley did not enjoy the support of all the board members on this issue, and he vacated the chair. • The clerk (Mr. L. J. Hagan) took the chair and read the provisions of the Act, which clearly stipulated that the chairman must hand in his resignation in writing. With the consent of the board, Mr. Heatley resumed the chair for the remainder of the meeting. The trouble arose out of a report by the chairman covering the givina of evidence before the • Local

Bills Committee in Wellington in connection with the catchment boards' legislation for the abolishrnent of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board. In his private capacity as a ratepayer, Mr. J. B. Crystall, who is a member of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board, and is also the representative • of the Kairanga County Council on the catchment board, attended the hearing to give evidence. In the course of his report, Mr. Heatley took exception to certain parts of Mr. Crystall's evidence before the Local Bills' Committee, and refcrred in fairly strong terms to Mr. Crystall's actions.

During the course of the report Mr. Heatley stated: "Generally speaking I think the witness representing the opposition to the Bill put up a weak case, and spent too much effort on matters of personal attack. Mr. Crystall, a member of this board," continued Mr. Heatley, "prefaced his remarks by making a personal attack on my integrity as follows: 'Mr. Heatley in his statements has again clouded the issue. His statements are ihcorrect and sliould not be ac.cepted.' In my long service on local bodies, I have previously contacted men of Mr. Crystall's calibre, who, wlien fightLng a lost cause, resort to personal abuse of their opponents. Heedless of the stigma placed upon me as ohairman of the board at all times. but carrying out the wishes and instructions of the board, I am coneerned about the loss of prestige and dignity of this board by such statements as that made by Mr. Crystall before a responsible commictee of honourable gentlemen of the House of Representatives." Mr. Heailey went on to outline in liis report that the catchment ooards were set up with the idea of oringi ilg about the co-ordinated oontrol of mutual . interests throughout the whole district, with .ndividual boards set up .to administrate, and are given-the controliing authority under the Act under svhich catchment boards are constituted, of all internal drainage ooards and river boards. After Mr. Heatley had presented bis report, Mr. Crystall rose anc said: "This thing is not funny, i tiave lost a lot of sleep over it in ;he past month. Today you are witoessing the disgusting and degradng spectacle of a man sustaining lis character — something that should not be necessary. If thc oharges in this report are true — md they were written for you to oelieve — every member of this board has a perfect right to expect my resignation. There is no place on a local body for a man guilty of this obnoxious offence. No excuse of apology can condone or minimise it. While I am speaking in my own defence, and discussing this so called report, I ask your protection as gentlemen, and to be allowed to speak free from any interjection. You are my judges; the public is my jury." In continuing, Mr. Crystall said that at the committee hearing, where things were of a factual nature, hc spoke the literal truth, and where they were of a general nature, and in answer to all questions where they were damaging to his case or tiot, he gave his sincere beliefs. "I did not state at any time a single thing that I could not prove," conoluded Mr. Crystall. A prolonged silence after Mr. Crystall had sat down was broken oy Mr. J. D. Aitchison, who sugjcsted that it might meet the posi;ion if the chairman expressed iome regret at having hurt Mr. Urystall, and withdrew the report. To this remark Mr. Heatley said: 'Do you think I am going to do ,hat? What I have done I have ione in the interests of the public md the people I serve. If the )oard decides Mr. Crystall is in the •ight and I am in the wrong, I have ro option but to resign on the spot," leclared Mr. Heatley, "I do not vant any slop, I am fighting my >wn battles." With that the chairman packed ip his belongings and vacated the :hair, asking the clerk to carry on. • Following the clerk's reading of he relative portion of the Act vhich contained the provision that he chairman must forward his esignation in writing, Mr. Aithison said: "This is not the rnswer just yet, the chairman 's esignation must be in writing." To this Mr. Heatley replisd that f it was the wish of the board that le continue with the remainder of he business of the meeting, and land in his resignation in writing after the meeting, he would

resume the chair. This course was adopted and the meeting proceeded. The report .which caused the controversy was held over until the next meeting of the board.