WAITARA HARBOR MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 7

WAITARA HARBOR MATTERS

LIVELY DISCUSSIONS. THE CHAIRMAN SEVERELY CRITICISED. Matters got very lively at yesterday's meeting of the Waitara Harbor Board, and some personalities were indulged in. The first occasion was when the question of RE-ORGANISING THE STAFF was brought forward. Mr. Cameron, harbormaster, had just touched oh question when the chairman moved, that the Board go into committee. Mr. Hine vigorously protested against the staff re-organisation being sprung on so suddenly. He considered it should be brought forward by notice of mo-! tion. He absolutely objected to the matter being dealt with in committe*.] It was most extraordinary. " The chairman said it was quite correct to bring the matter on without, notice of motion.

Mr. Birdling seconded the motion that the Board go into committee. On a division, this was carried, Mr. Hine being the only dissentient. The Board then discussed the matter in committee, and, on resuming, were about to proceed to the next business, when Mr. Hine asked if it Was noi , now necessary to confirm in open board what had been done in committee. The chairman accordingly moved the confirmation of the following business done in committee: "Proposed by Mr. Birdling, seconded by Mr. Rattenbury, that the harbormaster receive three months' notice dispensing with his services, and that the other members ol the staff receive one month's notioe." Mr. Hine called for a division, and, on a vote being taken, was the only dissentient.

Mr. Hicks moved, and Mr. Rattenbury seconded, that the chairman, Messrs. Birdling, Smith and Rattenbury be a committee to arrange for re-organising the staff and report to a meeting ot the Board.

Mr. Hine again called for a division, ■and was the only dissentient. Mr. Birdling seconded the motion for confirmation.

Mr. ILine sprang to his feet and entered a most emphatic protest. He did not object to staff re-organisation. Possibly it might be required, but (with warmth) he wished to enter a very strong protest against the manner in which it had been brought forward. It should first have been discussed in open Board. Outside the board-room he considered that, with the exception of the chairman, members of the Board had no more power than ordinary citizens. What right had four members of the Harbor Board to go to the harbormaster and ask him to resign, and at the same time give him to understand that if he did so he would be given a recommendation? They had just passed a resolution giving the harbormaster three months' notice. That official, however, was engaged by the year and he had grave doubts if three months' notice was sufficient.

Mr. Birdling: "We have had legal advice, and it is." Mr. Hine, continuing, said that did not for one moment remove from his mind the action of the members. They had persecuted the dredgemaster until he resigned, and were now persecuting the harbormaster. He knew' that ho was a minority of one, but he wanted them definitely to understand that he considered all business whether connected with the staff or anything else should be done in open Board. Anything he had to snj ue was quite prepared to say in public, what some members were not.

The chairman said ho would like to make a personal explanation. The majority of the Board had waited on Mr. Cameron, and he comidercd they were paying him a compliment by asking him to resign instead of giving him the "dirty kick out" or "sack." He also pointed out to Mr. Cameron that he had been a good servant. Mr. Hine weed not speak so Ihcatedly on the matter. They were not Government members. They were elected by the people, and must look after the people's interests and not bolster up anything month after month. He referred to the lack of shipping facilities, and the manner in which the previous Board had delayed over necessary matters. On that Board, like Mr. Hine, he was in the minority, but he had battled for the welfare of the port, and now that he had the power would certainly not hesitate to use it for the benefit of thu town and river.

Mr. Binlling said there was. no "hole and corner" business about the matter. He was on the spot, and believed reorganisation was necessary. As a letter which appeared in the paper had shown, their wages "were increasing and receipts decreasing. Personally, as far as Mr. Cameron was concerned, he was a good servant, hilt they must economise. The resolution was then carried, Mr. Hine again calling for a division and being the only member to vote against the resolution. A QUESTION OF TOINOTPLK Matters again got somewhat warm when the question of laying up the dredge was brought forward. Mr. Hine opened the ball by asking the reason the dredge had stopped work after the

,Board had at its last meoting authorised the work to be continued. The chairman said he was responsible. With Messrs. Hicks and Rattenbury he had been watching the dredge, and was satisfied that it was not doing adequate work for the amount of money, that wm being spent on it. In fact; some of the employees told him they were ashamed to take the money. The «*b was not working properly, only bringing «p about a shovelful at atime, and he accordingly, in the interests of the Board, ordered it to be laid Hp. Mr. Hine protested that as the dredge wm. being worked by resolution of toe Board a, meeting of the Works Committee should have been' called. The chairman: "Three members were present—a quorum." Mr. Hine: "Three members picked up anywhere do not constitute a quorum. The whole Works Committee should have been summoned. Had only three attended then nothing could have been said. It was, however, wrong for the chairman to pick up his friends and ignore the others. He would have thought more of the chairman if he had taken the responsibility himself aid not sheltered behind three members. He objected to being ignored in this way and therefore tendered his resignation as a member of the Works Committee,

The chairman: "You were not ignored this morning!" Mr. Hine: "No, because this meeting was fixed at the last Board meeting." Continuing, he warned members that that they must curb the exuberance of the chairman. This wm not the first. occasion on which, the .chairman, bad acted on his own responsibility. He' had hardly been elected ten' minutes when he waited on the Minister of Public Works on a matter o! whose magnitude he had not the slightest conception, and was sent away with "a flea in his ear." He remarked that the condition of the dredge could not have been much worse when it was laid up than it was at last meeting, and if it was se bad then the chairman should have mentioned it when the dredge was under discussion. He thought the reason the dredge was working so badly wag that the previous dredgemaster had left and some one was in charge not familiar with the dredge. That man had thrown up the job, and this sort of business would continue unless members exercised their authority and checked the chairman.

The chairman pointed out that at last meeting the harbormaster was authorised to continue dredging for tws or three weeks. After that time he (the chairman) went to find out if good work was being done, with the result previously! mentioned. As there was Bft at low water at tho place being dredged he stopped the dredge. He denied any espionage, but as far as the previous dredgemaster was concerned, the dredge did not do good work, nor was the stuff shifted that was credited to the iredge.

Mr. Smith said the chairman had afterwards told him why the dredge was stopped, and he was quite satisfied. Mr. Rattenbury denied that there was any ''hole and corner" business. Would Mr. Hint as a private individual, -he asked, employ a .dredge when he knew the amount of work and the quantity of men required to remove the silt that dredge removed? Why, anyone could see at a glance the dredge was not suitable. If dredging was necessary they must go in for a dredge jsuitahle for their requirements. This dredge did not pay. The Board had to economise, and if they threw away £35 per month, they were not doing their duty. Personally, he used his own judgment in all matters.

Mr. Hine maintained that members of the Works Committee should have been notified. A section of the Board had stopped the dredge when the whole Board had authorised the work. Mr. Hicks considered it was the chairman's duty to see that matters were progressing properly He moved the confirmation of his actios. Mr. Smith seconded this, and it was carried, Mr.' Hine dissenting.