MR. SIMPSON'S APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 7

MR. SIMPSON'S APPOINTMENT.

"MINISTER MADE NO MISTAKE," (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Westport,'July 15. At the meeting of the, Buller Colmty Council to-<lay Councillor Powell made a speech condemnatory of tho action 01 a member of Parliament in regard to aspersions cast on Mr. W. R. Simpson, a member of the council, and an appointee ot the Government on the Westport Harbour Board. He said that they all knew Mr. Simpson as an honourable man, and it was tho lluty of the council to correct any impression to the contrary. Ho reviewed the whole circumstances and in concluding said that the Minister foi Marino must-bo assured that, in appointing Mr. Simpson to tho board, ho had made no mistake either as regarded morals or capacity. The convictions ot younger days—possibly arising as tho outcome of the local prejudices and biases in which Mr. Simpson was surroundedmust not supersedo others of a lifetime. . . . Councillor Looker, who is leaving tho district to act as a No-License advocate at Napier, endorsed the remarks. The remarks were also endorsed by tho chairman (Mr. M'Carthy), Councillor Wilson, and Councillor Williams, and lution was carried unanimously That this council deeply sympathises with Mr. Simpson and his wife and family in having convictions for breaches of the Licensing 'Act used against them in tho minncr it lias been, and further that this council has no doubt of his honour, and tliat the general good conduct'of Mt. Simpson entitles him to the esteem in which he is generally held." In thanking tho council for their remarks and the resolution, Mr. Simpson said that ho was not so greatly concerned over these affairs as they might suppose, as lie was fully conscious of his own innocence in tho whole matter. He had tho esteem of the community in which he lived, and had no intention to resign his position on the Harbour Board.