POWER BOARD SECRETARY.

Shannon News, 14 March 1922, Page 2

POWER BOARD SECRETARY.

■I TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY CLERK.

A deputation from the Horowhenua Power Board, consisting of Messrs. 1). W. Matheson and A. A. *Brown, waited v on the Horowhenua County Council at its meeting on SaTCfrday with the object of asking the Council to allow its clerk (Mr P. W. Goldsmith), who has been secretary of the Provisional Committee, to act temporarily as secretary of the now 1 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 information in regard to hydro-electric affairs, an i was already in the possession of information that would be of great value to the board. It- was not pos- , sible to say definitely how long n 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 take Mr Goldsmith away from his duties finduly. if, however, it was found that Mr Goldsmith had to call in assistance for Council work that he was not for h;u> moment able to apply himself to, the board would readily foot the bill. After the retirement of the deputation, when the subject was again *eferred to, Cr. Mcieavey 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. Harknessi on the other hand, was strongly in favour. He considered that Mr Goldsmith possessed tact, and an ability that f would permit him to supervise the work of both bodies with success.

The chairman observed that his dual capacity as chairman of both bodies placed him in an invidious position, as he had foreseen, and stated it would, when he was elected chairman of the board. Still, he 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 over the work at that stage. Until then there was not a great deal to do, 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 it will be permanent, do you? Cr. Harkness: Well, I would lot 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 front the Council consisting of Crs. McLeavey and Harkness and the Clerk.