MANAWATU CATCHMENT BOARD

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1946, Page 3

MANAWATU CATCHMENT BOARD

Mlt. W. McKKAY NEW CHAIRMAN Consequent upon the rccent resignation of Mr. J. T. J. Heatley from the ofFice of chairman of the Manawatu Catchment Board, following a dispute with Mr. J. B. Crystall, a board member, a special moeting of thc board was held in Palmerston North on Monday morning for the purposc of elec'ting a new chairmon.'1 The clork (Mr. L. J. Magan) presided during the holding of the election, and there were 14 board members present. 1 Two nominations wero recoived. Ihe names of Mr. W. McKay and Mr. Heatley being put forward. An interesting position aro.se when Jt icame to the vote, the board being jevenly divided. I Under the prnvisions of tlie Soll ! Conservation and Rivers Cou'rol j Act. 1941. to meef. such a continjgency. lots were drawn The two ; names were placed in a hat and a 'Press representative wHhdrew one j of the sllps. As a result. Mr. McKay ;was declared to be the new chairjman of the board He will hold j office until May next, when, under ' the terms of the AcL the board jmust hold another special meeting to elect a chairman The next elections for the 10 elective members of the board do not take place until November, 1047. The fift-eenth member of the board, who could have decided. the election issue was Mr. R. R Lind. who arrived at the meeting after the b'allot was taken. Among the first. to offer their congratulations to Mr. McKay was Mr, Heatley, who said he hoped his successor would have a more pleasant experience tliaii he had had during the past three ycars. He stat.ed that he would not have eonsented to re-nomi nation if press ure had not been brought to bear on liim. On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. S. W. Barber, the board unanimously decided to place ; on record its appreciation of the1 services given to the board and to: the community by Mr. Heatley dur- j ing his term of office. For the second time in his local; body career; Mr. McKay has won: an election by ballot after a dead- . heat in the voting. By a strangej coincidence, the acting-chairman of the meeting on each occasion has been Mr. L. J. Hagan, at present clerk to the catchment board, who was clerk to the Pohangina! County Council when the previous incid-ent. occurred.