VOTE OF THANKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 22 April 1914, Page 6

VOTE OF THANKS.

Mil. .'IKXXIXdS AXI) •. K WAITARA IIAKJ3OH l!OMI).

At the Wiiitara Harbor Hoard meeting on Friday night. Mr. W. Birdling moved:-"That this Hoard places on record its appreciation of the service.-; rendered by Mr. W. T. Jennings, during the past eleven years h • a member of the Hoard, and that a f v,y *>f the resolution lie forwarded t<: \i;\ Jennings.'' The Chairman was < bout to put the motion to the .mooting when Mr. Hinii said he agreed with it a certain extent, but lie could not w'lolly support it. Tliey all knew that "* Jennings had been sitting on the P.O. i illegally, and that he had burked ai iquiry into his position. He had no \ . .'.i to raise the question again, but it was quite plain that the members of the Board who protested against Mr Jennings sitting illegally could not support the motion as it stood.

Mr. Hirdling «iid he did not see how the. motion could he .Utorod. lie was only asking that Mr. .] nnings lie thanked for his past service Mr. Ogle, said that \v' Jo Mr. Jennings was legally a member, IV motion wis all right, but to support •)•.■ motion-as it was read, would be endorsing all Mr. Jennings' actions, and t'at, Mr. Ogle said, lie, was not going 'a do. Mr. Hicks said that i; there were an error the Government • ade it, not Mr. Jennings, lie contend) ' that Mr. Jennings had acted quite L'^ally. Mr. Ogle remarked that the Supreme Court judge did not think so.

The Chairman did not see that there was anything to cavil at in the wording of the motion.

Air. Ilinc said tlmt the protesting members were freely prepa -A to thank Mr. Jennings for what lie li-iu done while he was legally a member i.f lie Hoard, and personally he hoped Mr. iiirdling would agree to alter his moticn accordingly.

Mr. Ogle said lie would much prefer to pay Mr. Jennings tli • compliment, but lie and the other me!iib",'.s with him could not stultify themselves by allowing it to go on record that „hey now agreed with all Mr. Jennings Iml done, considering of course, the sta.id they had previously taken. When tli;' question arose, if Mr. Jennings had agreed to his position being tested, it would have been quite satisfactory bat : <. would have none of that and pert.vrd in keeping his seat. Mr. Hicks said thai Mr. Jennings no doubt thought as he bad been appointed by the (loyevnmcnt n was entitled to hold his seat.

Mr. Iline asked if Mr. Hicks thought il was a case of "the King being able to do no wrong.'' Mr. Vaughan said he agreed with the proposition, viz., the addition of the words '•during the time he was a legal member of the Board." Mr. Hine said it was the only way the motion would satisfy them

After some further discussion, Mr. Birdling agreed to .alter the motion, arid it was passed with the addition of the words.—Mail.