HARBOUR BOARD MEETS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2995, 5 February 1917, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD MEETS

INTERVIEWED BY CITIZENS' DEFENCE COMMITTEE BOARD APPROVES SETTLEMENT BY CONSTITUTIONAL METHODS. A special meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board was called for 10 o'clock on Saturday morning to discuss the existing position on the waterfront. There were present: Messrs. C. E. Daniell (chairman), C. W. Jones, H. L. Nathan, W. Cable, J. (i. Harkness, A. 11. Hindmarsh, M.1 , ., E. A. Wright, M.P., A. M'Farlane, 11. E. Sinclair, and Maurice Cohen. The chairman thanked the members fop their attendance at such short notice, particularly the country members, who had to travel at some inconvenience. He explained that three members of the board had,been appointed to co-operate with the employers and employees in a conference. Matters had now arrived at such a point that he had thought it his duty to call tho members together to share with him the responsibility of further procedure. The question had arisen whether the business should be taken in committee or open board. Mr. A. M'J?arlane proposed, and Mr. W. Cable seconded, that the bourd should go into, committee. Mr. J. U. Cable:. Docs that mean that the whole of the business will be taken in committee, or .ire we to resume ill open board afterwards? The chairman: Any decision arrived at must be reported in open board. Mr. Cable: iSut will it Co competent to have a debate in open board? Several members: lcs. . The chairman: Personally, 1 court publicity, but 1 bow to the decision of the board. Mr. Hindmarsh: L think it is for tho chairman to say whether the matter be taken in committee or open board. He knows the wituro of the information he has to convey, and whether it should be heard in public or private. Air. W. T. Hildrcth: I have no 'objection to the business being taken in committee, but I agree with Mr. Cable it would be better to have publicity afterwards. . Tho motion was then put and carried. Shortly after the board went into committee a deputation from the Citizens' Defence Committee, was received by the hoard-(in committee). "When the board resumed in the open tho chairman formally moved that fhe business done in committee bo approved. This was seconded and duly carried. Tho following resolution, which had been passed by the board in committee, was then given to our reporter:— Moved by Mr. H. L. Nathan and seconded by Mr. A. MTarlane: "That this board endorses the action of its representatives in referring the present demands for wages and conditions of the 'Waterside Workers' Federation to the ■Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court." The sole dissentient was Mr. Hindmarsh. \ The chairman, when questioned, said he had nothing to say'about the matters discussed by the board with the deputation from the Citizens' Defence Committee.