WAITARA HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 299, 10 May 1913, Page 8

WAITARA HARBOR BOARD.

HOSTILITIES RESUMED. A LIVELY MEETING. DEADLOCK ENSUES. As anticipated, events took an unusual turn at last night's meeting of the Waitara Harbour Board. At the annual meeting of the Board, held, recently, for the election of a chairman, three members (Messrs. Hihe, Ogle, and Vauglian) left the meeting in protest against Mr. Jennings (tha Government nominee) retaining his seat, on the Board. On that occasion, however, there remained, even after their defection, a quorum of members to transact the business. Last night, however, one member (Mr. Hieks) was absent. THE BONE OF CONTENTION. Mr. J. lliue, Jr., set the ball rolling by moving that the minutes of the last meeting be not confirmed, on the ground that there was not a quorum of qualified persons present. Speaking to his motion, he said that the latter part of the last meeting was informal, lnag-" much as Mr. Jennings's seat was—ao they were legally advised—vacant, he being not qualified to take part in the proceedings. The speaker wished to go into the matter fully, in order to let the public fully understand the position. Last meeting, Mr. Sine said, the action of Mr. Jennings was so extraordinary that it had to be met by prompt ami decisive action. The general impression in the district was .that the Government nominee -on the Board, was appointed for two years, his term being concurrent with that of other members. As a matter of fact, however, Mr, Jennings was appointed for three years,, and if his appointment was sound, it would run on for three years, Mr. Jennings: Is this legal information? Mr. Hine replied in and went on to point out that where Mr. Jennings failed was in the fact that according to the Act no person other than a person entitled to vote—an elector could be appointed or elected to the Board. Mr. Jennings at the time of' his appointment, and at the present day, did not possess this qualification, and consequently the order-in-council referring to his appointment was void. The Act also stipulated that on any disqualification a member's seat automatically ceased to be .in existence. 'lt was, 'therefore, quite clear that Mr. Jennings's seat had been, pro facto, VACANT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

He exceedingly; regretted flint Mr. Jennings had been advised to come and take part in the meeting. Under the circumstances they had had to take the extreme step of leaving the last meeting of the Board. . > Mr. Jennings's attitude was irregular, find illegal. Concluding, Mr. Hine pointed out that it was not a personal matter. He believed that Mr. Jennings and most of the members were quite anaware of the. provisions of the Act. Mr. A. W. Ogle seconded lue motion. Mr. Jennings moved an amendment, whieh Mr. W. Birdling seconded, thai the minutes be confirmed! • The chairman (Mr. -»W. Jenkins), ruled that this was a direct negative. STICKING TO HIS GUNS.

Mr. Jennings sought at the outset to 1 prove that as far back as two months ago Mr. Hine and his confreres had intended to spring this "nice aurprise" on to him. He had been told as much at the time. "Well," continued the speaker, "I say that I am a member of this Board, and intend to hold my seat until the Governor revokes my appointment, which I dont think he will do." Proceeding, he pointed out that at the ; time of his re-appointment he had had no desire to be on the Board. As * matter of fact he had actually offered to resign in favour of Mr. Stubbs. HU re-appointment was gazetted before h* (Mr. Jennings) knew anything about it. After reviewing his services on behalf of the Board, the speaker stated his objec< tion to the allegedly unfair tacticß <>i the local paper with regard to himself, and he described the action of his opponents on the Board as detestable. Their attack was unfair, unmanly and unjust, tt was AN ELECTIONEERING DODGE' worked to prejudice him inrthe mi»d« oJ the people outside the district of Wal tara. It was a despicable attempt to impure him in the eyes of the people, 'The speaker then threw out a challenge to any pne of his opponents to resign their seat, put up a nominee (the perI son mentioned in the Waitara Mail), to contest the seat with him (Mr. Jennings), and let the people decide who was in the right. The speaker added that he now possessed the qualification of a ratepayer in the district. Concluding, he said: "I intend to retain my seat on this Board until the Governor, by Order-in-Council, removes me, and you will And that will not be done." Traversing the remarks of Mr. Jen nings. Mr. Hine denied the charge o* , personal animus, and stated that he wa< not aware until recently that he (Mr. Jennings) had lost his seat. As regard:,ed Mr. Jennings's challenge, it was an easy thing to make, seeing that If ■.they all resigned to-morrow there would be no by-election. The vacancies were filled by order-in-council. Mr. Ogle thanked Mr. Jennings for] Ins appreciation of the work of the! old Board. i The chairman endeavoured to pour] oil on the troubled waters, appealing tq members to settle down to work withj out having j

"THIS CONSTANT FIGHTING." Tie did not think that these eonstai bickerings would do any good. J Mr. 0«le: The position is that i have taken a certain stand and aj agoing to carry it out. j The motion was then put and lost i the casting vote of the chairma ayes: Messrs. Hine, Ogle, and Vaughj; Noes: Messrs. Birdling, Jennings, & the chairman. Mr. Jennings then moved that ie minutes be confirmed, and the mofn was carried on the casting' vote of he chairmah. EXIT THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE Mr. Hine then announced that itms with very great reluctance and rfet that he and his colleagues (Mlrs. ;Viiughan and Ogle) had decided l»t they must follow the same cours,' of action as that adopted last nightj&nd leave the meeting. They could; not stay and take part in the illegal pit of the proceedings. At Mr. Jennings's suggestion, they agreed to stay until the and other accounts were passed fo! payment. Mr. Hine explained that I was taking this stand on principle and would stay for the accounts, but /thing else. The accounts totalled £lßl, ai after they had been passed,, the trio ft the room. • Mr. Hicks not being prese* the meeting was left without a quuni, no further business being transact; ' Queestioned subsequently by a "News" representative as to i»at he proposed to do, the chairman sfed that he would simply wait until ie next meeting, when *Mr. Hicks \iild be present, enabling him to sere the necessary quorum of four, wjout the members who had left the mi'mg that night.