THE PATENT SLIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 7

THE PATENT SLIP.

rE RMS vAGRE ED TO BY HARBOUR BOARD, . ii. A CURIOUS INCIDEMT. ! DISCUSSION AVOIDED. . - Tho "Wellington- Harbour Board held an ■ omorgonoy meoting yostoiday afternoon to' "' consider the terms of the report which had been agreed to by tho sub-committeo in cou- ■ fei'enco 'with the- Wellington . I'atont' Slip : Ccmpany. The Board sat in committco for three hours, ..On resuming the Chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford) reported that tho Board > . had. mat to consider tho mattor of tho .rccommendation of, the committee in reference . to.entoring into an agreement with the Patent Slip Compiny, Ltd., for the acquisition, of its iproporty on terms which were l(tid before the Board in tho event of: the Ddard having authority to sign tho. agreement. The resolution was:—"That the committee: recommends tho Board to enter into an agreetnent.;for acquisition with the Wbllington Patont Slip. Company , on' the above terms." i. Mr. It. Fletehof rose to speak to the mo- ; tion, but wished to know where he was— were they in-open meeting, or. in committee? .. .......:. Tho Chairman said that the meoting was now open, - and that the Press was entitled to: bB presenti at emergency meetings of the ■ Board.. :, ? •■■ • Mr. FlotcherV "But! want to rote against 1 it,. and I waijt to,explain why I vote against . it, but this .matter' is confidential." \ The Ohairman: ." There will bo another • • meeting on-Thursday week, when itwill come np,for confirmation.. We'll put the resolution and record your vote against it if you like.'!■■■;■ ~. -. . .; . Mr. Flelcher: " I understood that this was the;fi'nal mooting to Bottle up the wholo; business.'* Do 1 understand it will be open ' for'discussion at the next meeting of the Board?'" Tho Chairman: "I can't say that. You T- should say what you want to say now. If desires to discuss it now they can ; dij : ';SO." : (Smiles.) ,'• . ' ' 'Mr.,Fletcher: "But it is placing'mo in a false position—this is a confidential document. I ', ' /. V. ' lis.Chairman: "I will place no obstacle , m v "tno way of anyone to 1 say what he likes." (Br&ad smilos.) . : 'Mr.'Cohon: "Ho might reserve what ho hfiSi' to say until the noxt meeting;". S dl Mr. Hetoher: I'l'm quite prepared to agree ■ to .that if I—— • u; The Ohairman: "Mr. Fletcher, you may givo your opinion now or then." < ■" Mr. Fletcljor: "I prefer thon!" (Laugh* ; tor). •' > • The Chairman then put the resolution, jvhich was carried without, dissent, and, the .meeting broke up, broadly smiling at tho . ineat tactics' of--the Chairman. '' ;/ •■Tjie l agreement referred; to (the terms of which are being carefully, kept', from the ~ public) has been sent south for ; ratification " by tho board of directors of tho Union Company. (which .has a preponderating interest in .tho Patent Slip Company)',and'-if it, meets ' with' their- approval, of winch there is small ~ doubt, the resolution of tho ■ Harbour Board wiji'bo confirmed afc'.tho next meeting, and forthwith the jagreomont will bo " signed, sealed, and delivered." : • •