HARBOUR BOARD BOOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 14 March 1894, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD BOOKS.

THE MEMBERS AND THE

OFFICIALS,

INFORMATION WANTED.

Ax importanb question bearing on the right of members of local bodies to examine the books, documents and records of those bodies in the custody of the officials, was raised ab tho meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon. A discussion ensued on a motion by Mr J. H. Wibheford, who moved, in accordance wibli notice given, "That any member of this Board shall have access during office hours to books and documents belonging to the Board, in such manner as will nob inberfere wibh bhe work of tho officials." The mover said thab a member of the Board had been refused the righb to see books in the office recenbly, and he had.accordingly broughb tho motion forward. The other day tho Secretary had told him thab he was nob going to have the books overhauled, when he (Mr Witheford) asked to see the ledger account. Mr Wibheford said he approved of showing every kindness and consideration to officers of the Board, but whon an official refused to show a member his books, it was time to demonstrate the relative position of member and official. Ib was the duty of members to see thab bhe sysbem of carrying on the business of the Board was as periecb as possible, and the administration efficient. While a member of the Special Commibtee ho had seen the ledger accounts of goods wharfage, and noted that the export and import ledger did nob show bhe debbor and credibor in the money columns, and he had proposed "Tbab ledgers'accounts in future of goods wharfage should show the actual amounb due and the exact amounb paid." This was agreed bo. He subsequently wenb to bhe office bo see if the system of keeping these particular accounts had been changed, but was refused access to them, hence the mobion before the Board. Mr W. J. Napier said that if he had been refused access to tbo books—which constituted a criminal offence—ho would have gone and laid ao information against the officer refusing. There was a penalty nob exceeding £5, provided for this refusal of officers to allow Board membera access to tho books. _He proposed as an addendum to Mr Witheford's motion, "That an explanation be demanded from the officer who, ib is alleged, refused a Board member access to bhe books." Ib was only fair, he said, to Mr Brigham, the officer in question, who waa away, that an explanation should be asked for.

Mr R. Farrell said he waa amazed at hearing bhab bhe Board members were refused examinabion of the books of the Board. He supported the proposal thab the Secrebary should be asked for an explanation. Mr Witheford eaid thab he desired to get certain information wibh regard to the revenue contribubed to the sugarworks, bub one of the officials bold him tbab if he spenb the resb of his nabural life in searching the books he could not get what he want. All he wanted to look at when he asked to see tho book was the system of book-keeping. He did not want to press the matter. Mr

Witheford said he was willing to adopb Mr Napier's addendum to his motion,' and he would like to delete the latter parb of it, leaving the motion as follows:— " Thab any member of tho Board shall have access during office hours to books and documents belonging .to the Board, and thab bhe officer who is alleged by Mr Witheford to have refused a member access to the books be called on for an explanation." Mr Alison moved as an amendmenb ••Thab Mr Witheford having sbabed bhat he was refused inspection of the books the officer charged with having access to the books be asked to explain." Mr Witheford withdrawing his motion in favour of Mr Alißon's the latter proposition waa carried.