HARBOUR BOARO WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 114, 13 May 1908, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARO WORK.

THE COMMITTEE QUESTION. Some time ago Mr. G..W. Basley made a formal pro-test at the meeting of the Harbour Board against a Standing Committee being set up, consisting of a few members only, he contending tha-t all members of the Board should be acquainted with the -whole of the business transacted. At the meeting held yesterday afternoon, T&x. Basley moved: "That the names of Messrs. Dacre. Bradney, Keyes,- Glover, Kneen, McK.enzie, Basley, and Entrican be added to the Special Standing Committee." This, if carried, would have made "all the members of the Board the Standing Committee. Or. Basley said he considered all the members of the Board should be on the committee, so that they all knew what was going on. Mr. H. Bradney seconded the motion. He objected to small committees, as calculated to cause business to be done m a corner. Mr. W. J. Napier said he objected as strongly as anyone to a few doing all the work, but unless the Board sat every day the work could not be done. All large concerns had to send matters to small committees. The Standing Committee had no power, unless the Board gave it power to act each time. He knew that their chairman was now practically devoting his whole time to the business of the Board. Special matters required to be referred to special committees. The chairman said there was a good deal of misapprehension with regard to the Standing Committee. The work had grown so enormously that it could not be done unless the Board sat two or three times a -week. Unless he had the chance of consulting with a committee from <lay to day, it might mean his having to retire from the chair. Mr A. J. Entrican said the Board made a. mistake in not having- put Mr. Basley on the Standing Committee, as it would have saved this discussion. He thought it was quite right that the chairman should have an executive committee with whom he might consult. Mr. J. Kneen said he had every confidence in the chairman, but the further the Standing Committee went the less he liked it. Mr. Basley said no man present had greater respect for the chairman than himself. Be had ho wish to be on the Standing Committee, but he felt it should consist of the whole Board. The motion was then put and lost.