POWER BOARD SECRETARY.

Otaki Mail, 15 March 1922, Page 4

POWER BOARD SECRETARY.

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY CLERK. A deputation from the Horowhenua Power Board, consisting of Messrs. 1). \V. Matheson and A. A. Brown, waited on the Horowhenua County Council at Us meeting on Saturday with the ob«ject of asking the Council to allow its clerk (Mr P. \V, Goldsmith), who has been secretary of the Provisional Committee, to act temporarily as secretary of the now duly-constituted Power Board. In putting the position before the Council, Mr Matheson said Mr Goldsmith was away at the moment on his annual holiday, and was gathering valuable inlormation in- legat’d to hydro-electric affairs, and was already in the possession ol information that would be of greatvalue lo the board. It was not possible to say definitely how long it would be before a permanent appointment was made, but for the present it was not desirable to saddle the community with an extra expense. Mr Brown assured the Council that, in wishing to have Mr Goldsmith, the Board had no desire to inconvenience the Council or lake Mr Goldsmith away from his duties unduly. If, however, it was found that Mr Goldsmith had to call in assistance lor Council work that he was not for the moment able to apprty himself to, ihe board would readily loot the bill. After the retirement ol the deputation, when the subject was again leferred to, Ci'. expressed himself as opposed to the proceeding on principle. He felt that it was not right to have a man’s attention divided between two duties.

Cr. Harkness, on the other hand, was. strongly in favour. He considered that Mr Goldsmith possessed tact and an ability that would permit him to supervise the work of both bodies with success.

The chairman observed that his dual capacity as chairman oi both bodies placed liirn in an invidious position, as he had foreseen, and stated it would, when lie was elected chairman of the board. Still, lie would say that Mr Goldsmith had the board’s initial work at his finger-tips. Until the loan was raised and work was commenced the board did not want the Incubus of paying a big salary to a man with the credentials that one would be required to' have who took over the work at that stage. Until then there was not a great deal to dp, and Mr Goldsmith’s assistance and advice would be invaluable. Cr. Harkness: He will be of great use and will save money. Cr. McLeavey: You don’t suggest n will be permanent, do you?

Cr. Harkness: Well, I would iOt mind for 12 months anyway. The chairman assured the meeting that no member of the board had any desire of depriving the Council of Mr Goldsmith’s services permanently. The facts were as had been stated. It was then decided that a temporary appointment be made on terms to be arranged at a conference between the board and a committee from the Council consisting of Crs. McLeavey and Harkness and the Clerk.