MR GILLIES AND THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3807, 7 May 1875, Page 2

MR GILLIES AND THE SPEAKERSHIP.

% To the Editor, u xPC*' 1 to your correspondent r « ° end to yourself for quoting in full section 19-net "clause 19” aa hemroneously calls it-o£ the Harbor Board Ordinance. Not wishing to trespass so far upon your space myself, I deemed it sufficient to select the portion that referred to the point before me, which I did, marking whore the omissions eeeurred by the usual sign thus * « * * By some oversight these were omitted in print, and I very readily make your correspondent a present ef the apparent advantage gained. Why, sir, the very first few words, as quoted, are fatal to the theory set up by Mr Gillies and his friends. They are—- “ Every member of the Board, and every officer employed by the Board who shall exact,’ 1 &0., &o. Now, sir, T ask any unprejudiced person “ there is not in these words a very clearly defined distinction drawn between " a member of the Board” and an " officer employed by the Board,” aud whether that -distinction is not designedly indicated by the word " and ?” Why, sir, if anything so entirely opposed to all precedent, as a member of the Board being at one ajidthe same time also a. paid servant of the Board had ever entered the head of the framer or passers of the Ordinance, then, in the-name of common sense, I ask why was this distinction made ? Why not have said at once—" Every member of the Board or other person employed by the Board,” &c ♦ No, sir, the iutenfiqi is clearly this—lst. To prevent a member' in his capacity as " member’ from having any personal pecuniary interest in the proceedings of the Board; and, 2nd, to prevent " any officer employed by the Board” from exacting any fee or taking any reward "other than the salary or allowance” attached to Me office, who cannot, or will not, see the force of the distinction made, I regard as under a -more powerful influents than that of Dunedin, May <. <*»*•**■