FILLING A VACANCY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 4

FILLING A VACANCY.

1 HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID ; BOARD. A conference that was somewhat irregular in procedure assembled in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpose of electing a representative to succced Mr. J. (3. W. Ait'ken on tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. To begin with a quorum was not present. Bodies entitled to be present were the Wellington City Council and the Karori and Miramar Borough Councils. Between them these three authorities control a district which returns U members to the Hospital Board. Representatives who were present when the proceedings commenced were: Councillors Frost, Atkinson, Fitzgerald, Hindmarsh, Thompson, Fletcher, M'Laren, and Morrah (Wellington); Mr. J. Brodie, Mayor of Miramar, and Councillors Bell, Bowie, and Richards, of that borough: and Councillors Cathie and Hildreth (Karori). Mr. C. I. Dasent (Mayor) and Councillor Standcn, of Karori, arrived later. The required quorum was 17. Counting in the lata arrivals the number of representatives that attended was 16. Apologies for absence wero received from the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), and Councillor Lul;e. The Mayor of Miramar, who presided, stated that, although no quorum was present, it was proposed to proceed with the selection of a representative. The decision of the conference would be submitted to the local bodies concerned as a recommendation. Councillor Hindmarsh nominated Mr. M. .T. Roardon to fill the vacancy. Mr. Brodie nominated Councillor Frost, and Councillor Fitz/rerald nominated Councillor Fletcher. None of the nominations were seconded, but all were accepted. Mr. Dasent (Mayor of Karori) arrived after nominations had closeci( just in time to participate in the voting. Councillor Standen (Karori) did not arrive until the voting papers had been handed in. but he also was permitted to vote. When the votes, had been counted it was announced that Councillor R. Fletcher had been selected by an absolute majority. This result will be submitted to the local bodies interested. An objection lodged by any one of them will necessitate a fresh conference being called, but if they improve the action of the conference Mr. Fletcher will be declared duly elected to the Hospital Board.