THIS FIRST CHAIRMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 23 February 1909, Page 2

THIS FIRST CHAIRMAN.

Who will be the first chairman of the Board? We have no hesitation in saying that the choice will rest between Messrs Hennessy, Wilson and Woods- Mr Hennessy, it must be conceded, has prior claim to the honour, by reason of his self-sacrificing efforts in getting the Board constituted and his thorough grasp of the whole question. It may be objected that he will l)e absent during a most critical period in the Board’s history, and that Foxton will be underrepresented, but as Chairman he could obtain much valuable information on river and harbour works and administration in different parts of the world he intends to visit, which would prove of incalculable value to the local Board. Mr J. G. Wilson was a member of the long defunct Board, and has a wide knowledge of the port and ancient legislation connected with it—being at the time member for the district. Mr Woods can be relied upon to safeguard the Government end of the stick and we might add that the ex-member for Palmerston was not considered a very enthusiastic supporter of the Harbour Board movement when the promoters were battling with the Harbour Board Bill. We leel sure, however, once Mr Woods becomes thoroughly versed in the details he will recognise how utterly impossible it is for the Board to do anything in the nature of improving the port under the existing conditions. M r Wood’s experience of Harbour Board matters acquired on the Wellington Harbour Board should also prove particularly useful on the new body.