FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1935, 18 December 1913, Page 6

FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED.

THE SPECIAL MEN.

HARBOUR BOARD'S RECOGNITION.:*

"Re special constables" was an item in the chairman's report at the monthly meeting of tho Wellington ■ Harbour Board last night. When the item was reached, the chairman (Air. R. Fletcher) said that members knew that during the' recent industrial trouble a number of citizens from different districts camo to the aid of the board to asssit in maintaining law and order. It had now been decided that there was no longer any necessity for the foot men to patrol tho wharves and they had been withdrawn, but some of the mounted men were still retained. At the lastmeeting of the committee, he (Mr. Fletcher) had expressed tho opinion that tho board should place on record'its appreciation of the services of these men and that was why he now mentioned the matter. Motion of Appreciation! Mr. A. M'Farlane said that, with the. chairman's permission, he would bo pleased to move a resolution in the direction named. He moved: : "That this board places on record./ its appreciation of tho valuable services rendered by tho special con- ■ ' stables who assisted m tho inaintcn» ance of order on the waterfront during the industrial trouble, thereby enabling tho work-of the port to proceed; and that a copy of this resolution be convoyed to the proper authorities for transmission to thej officers and men who carried out. the aforesaid duties." In speaking to tho motion, ! Mr. M'Farlane spoke of what had happened in connection with tile enrolment of tho special constables as a credit to the men from tho country and the city. The people in tho city had had a very anxious time and those in the country hardly realised what it had been. But in any caso splendid service had been rendered by tho special constables. Mr. AI. Cohen seconded the motion with great pleasure. Ho thought there was rather more in tile whole business than, what was apparent. Ho endorsed all that had been said by Mr. M'Farlane and considered that tho action oif the spccial constables, in volunteering for service at great sacrifice, was a magnificent sample of loyalty. Air. C. li. Daniel remarked that he was glad that this resolution had been brought forward bccauso thcro was an impression abroad that the Harbour Board had been rather slow in voicing its appreciation. A number of country people thought -that t'here had been | tome dilatoriness "on tho part of -t'no board in appreciating what the country men had done. Government's Firmness. Mr. J. 'Trevor expressed his pleasure in supporting the motion, lie said that lie should have liked tho motion to thank tho Government for their part. If they had not had a Government which was prepared to do its duty tho specials mignt not have been hero so soon. He would even liko to havo seen a vote of thanks to the Minister of Justice for the stiff back and tlio cour.igo he lmd shown in tho matter. Tho chairman, in replying to what Mr. Daniel had said, couid not understand how anyone in the country could have arrived at the position that t'hero was any dilatoriness on tho part of tho board, bccauso_ tho board had done everything possible for the men. Ho referred. to some of the arrangements mado on the wharf. As for what Air. Trevor had smd, 'lio (the chairman) pointed out that the board was dealing with the people, who volunteered for service, and tuat t-ho present resolution had nothing to do with the Government. No doubt the Government was very glad to get these mels at the time. As proof of his own good faith in tho matter, he mentioned that ho had personally framed this resolution, and it was by arrangement that it was moved by Air. Ari'arlano, who had brought the matter up at the last meeting. Continuing, Air. Fletcher said that there was a gieat deal of misapprehension in certain quarters as to the exact stato of affairs, and a resolution that had been passed by .the Greytown Borough . Council in condemnation of his own action was entirely based on misapprehension. However, the "washing up- would come by-aud-bye, and when it did ho was satisfied that ho would come out all right. Ho had been blamed by both sides, but was satisfied that ho had acted in the right. The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried on the voices. Mr. Fletcher Admits the Covernment'3 Work. Air. Trevor: Will you accept a resolution of thanks to -the Government? Air Fletcher: No. I don't think that would be right. Tho Government have only done their duty. We don t want politics. . Mr. J. W. M'Ewan remarked: •Further than that, we don't want anything foreign to the matter under discussion," .' Air. Fletcher said that all recognised what tho Government had done. Ho recognised it, too. But it would be illadvised to introduce the matter suggested by A!r. Trevor. Air. Trevor: Tho Government-coukl do their duty in a very different way, though.