HARBOR BOARD OFFICERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1568, 26 September 1905, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD OFFICERS

STOREMEN’S SERVICES TO BE DISPENSED WITH. A SHORT REIGN IN OFFICE. With upwards of a hundred applications for the positions of first and second store* i men, which appointments were made at , the last meeting of tbo Harbor Board, it was hardly to be expected that the Board would suddenly turn round as it did yesterday and deoide to dispenso with the two men appointed. As things have turned out it would appear that tho members of the Harbor Board wero themselves unaware why they mado the appointments. At tho meeting yesterday, when the i ■ report of the committee dealing with the appointments was drought up, Mr Sievwright pointed out that the Board bad now taken the responsibility off Messrs Kennedy and Evans, and it was no use trying to got out of it. It seemed that the Board had gone a little too far. He had not been at the committee meet* I ing. The Board now might just as well take up tho whole wharfage business, as Mr HardiDg had suggested. Mr Harding: And it never will be satisfactory until it is done. Mr Whim-ay said he could not see for I what purposo the storemen had been I appointed, because they were only doing - what Kennedy and Evans had been doing I with their men. It was now found that two storemen were not suffioieot, and (3 additional hands had to be found. I Mr Sievwright said tho appointments 1 had been made with the idea that imI provemonts oould be made in tho delivery 1 of goods, but the committee had gone a lot farther. They had settled the duties of the men, and in a manner taken the responsibility off Kennedy and Evans. .: Captain Tucker said the appointments ’ had been made in order to improve the facilities for delivering goods; also to Bave wharfagos to the Board. Ho did not think the Board should adopt the report if they found that the appointments were un« ’••• necessary or ineffectual. Mr Clark : But are they ineffectual. I was talking with our solicitor to-day, and he says that the judgment given by She .j;' .Magistrate to-day is entirely wrong. That i is what he tells me. We have a solicitor," ’ surely we ought to consult him in this “V matter before arriving at a decision. It v was never my intention that the men should handle goods at all. Two men oould not be expected to handle all the goods going out and coming into this port. I do not, however, take it that we- should jump round a 3 quick again- If wo have made a mistake we oan rectify it, Mr Matthowson : It is all very well to send two inea to supervise. Kennedy and • '; Evans will simply tell thßm to mind their * own business. Mr Sievwright moved that the report of tho committee, re tho duties of the men, be not confirmed. A member: This means that, as the committee was one of the whole Board, that wo Bnnb ourselves. Tho motion was carried by five to three,

Messrs HardiDg, Clark, and the Mayor votiDg against it. Mr Wbinray notified his intention to table a notice of motion to rescind the reresolution of the Board appointing the storemen.

Mr Harding : It ia a great pity that you not Mr - Lysnar hero. It ia distinctly flattering to him that he should have .led tho wholo Board in this matter. Discussion followed in regard to tho claim made for the payment of a bag of flour of the value of se, which was stated to have boen delivered short. Tha secretary said that the storeman had offered to pay the amount, but he had told him not to do so, as it would be equal to admitting their liability. It was suggested that the matter should bo referred to the solioitor, but after disousaion this was not acted upon and the Board decided to deny any liability in ra. gard to the claim. Later iu the afternoon after two members had left tho meeting the question of the appointment of the two storemen was again introduced.

It was pointed out that under the terms of the appointments the Board could dispense with the men’s eervioes at a month’s notice.. '' v ‘vr <; .// i ; :

Mr Whinray moved, “That the offices of chock olerk and tally olerk be abolished, and that the Board revert to the old arrangement.” . Captain Tucker seconded tho mot'on. Cr Harding pointed out that if it was decided to dispense with the storemen it would be just as well to give them a month's pay in lieu of notice. This was agreed to, thß Board unanimously deoiding to give tho men a month’s payment in lieu of notice, and revert to tho old order of things in rogard to the delivery of oargo.