TRANSPORT BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 668, 21 May 1929, Page 11

TRANSPORT BOARD

MR. MORTON’S RESIGNATION IRREGULAR SOLUTION OFFERED The question of Mr. F. S. Morton’s j positl °n on the Transport Board and his deferred resignation therefrom was referred to at the meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council last evening by Cr. J. Pilkington who gave notice to move that the resolution previously pasesd by the council asking , Mr. Morton to reconsider his resignation be rescinded.

Cr. Pilkington said that the council at is last meeting did not fully understand the position. The fact that Mr. Morton had advised them that he was resigning from the board solely on account of ill-health was not; .considerecV a sufficient reason why he should relinquish the position. _lt now appeared, however, that Mr. Morton had decided to go abroad, and this later development had put a different complexion on the question. He contended that the resignation must he accepted and another representative elected on or before May 31, otherwise an election by the whole of the people in six separate districts would be necessary, involving a large expense to the local bodies interested. He regretted having to accept Mr Morton’s resignation as he had given good service while a member of the Transport Board, but there was, in his opinion, no alternative. He suggested that the question be setijled at a special meeting of the council to ha called on Wednesday hext. Ihe Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, was of opinion that, as Mr. Morton’s election had cost the local bodies nothing, the election of his successor would be carried out on similar lines, but Cr. Pilkington pointed out that tinder the Statute those conditions would cease to exist after May 81. As a result of further discussion it was agreed to deal with the question m committee at the close of the meeting.

On resuming In open council, the recommendation of the council in committee was adopted to the effect as Mr. Morton’s resignation should have been tendered to the secretary or chairman of the Transport Board, the Onehunga Borough Council had no power either to reject oi accept it, and that the town clerk be instructed to get into touch with the other local bodies concerned with a view to electing Mr. Morton’s successor on or before May 31.