SECRET BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 3

SECRET BALLOT.

A.H.B. CHAIRMAN. "NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE." HONOUR FOR MR. T, B. CI*AY. For the firet time ill the history of the Auckland Harbour Board the election of a chairman .for the ensuing twelve months was cai'licd out at the (statutory annual meeting of the board yesterday afternoon, by means of a secret ballot. As %ho result of tho voting, Mr. T.-B. Clay is the new chairman of the board.

At the unanimous request of tho members, Mr. H. !!. Mackenzie took the chair for the election of the new chairman. When nominations were called for Mr. A. J. Parker nominated Mr. C. G. M;iciiidoe. The nomination was seconded by Mr. T. Bloodworth. Mr. A. M. Laiiig nominated Mr. T. B. Clay, who, he said, wiie tho senior member of the board with the exception of Mr. Mackenzie. "In all fairness Mr. Clay ie entitled to the position," he said. "I think he has been overlooked a little in the past." In seconding the motion, Mr. W. B. Darlow said he doubted whether any other member had put as much time and energy into his work as had Mr. Clay, who had 14 years' service to his credit. Mr. E. H. Davis was nominated by Mr. J. Sayegh, but said that he was not a candidate for the chairmanship. Mr. Sayegh then asked that the two candidates should give members an outline of their policy, but Mr. Mackenzie ruled the request out of order.

A Member Protests. As no other nominations 'were received the chairman was about to call for a show of hands when Mr. Davis objected. "1 think this is a matter which should. be settled by ballot," he said. "I am sorry that I have to take up this attitude, but it is a delicate subject and I prefer —and I am sure other members of the board prefer— a ballot to a show of hands. Mr. T. Bloodworth asked if there was anything in the Act as to the procedure to be adopted. The superintendent, Mr. H. B. Burnett, said there wae no definite system laid down, but that, if Parliamentary usages were to be followed, it seemed evident that the voting should be by a show of hands. Mr. Davis said that he thought he was well within his rights in moving that voting should be by ballot. He then formally moved in that direction, Mr. Sayegh seconding. Mr. Mackenzie: It has never been done in the history of the board before, and I cannot allow it.

Mr. Davis said that he did not think the chairman's ruling wae quite fair to him and questioned whether the chairman had the right to refuse members the opportunity of voting by ballot if they desired to do so.

Mr. Macindoe said that, as a candidate, he had no objection to members voting by ballot provided the board conformed to the requirements of the usual procedure. "Outside Talk." In expressing himself as in favour of a secret ballot, Mr. R. T. Reid said that there had been quite a lot of outside talk in connection with the election of a chairman. Mr. Clay said that he had no objections to a secret ballot. The feelings among board members in the past had been "harmonious and he did not want to see that condition of affairs altered. Mr. Mackenzie then said that if both candidates were agreeable he was quite willing to allow the voting to be secret. The election was then decided by ballot, Mr. Clay being successful by eight votes to eix. In thanking members, Mr. Clay said that the Auckland Harbour Board had splendid traditions which had to be lived up to. Although he was one of the senior members he claimed that he had as much energy as any of the younger members. He felt confident that "members would support him.

On the motion of the new chairman, Mr. Macindoe was elected deputy-chair-man. Mr. Macindoe assured Mr. Clay of his wholehearted and loyal support. It was decided that the chairman's honorarium should be the same as last year, £200, less 10 per cent. Mr. Darlow suggested that in future years it would be better if the chairman's honorarium was fixed before the chairman was elected. He made it clear that he was not making special reference to the present election, but was speaking generally and was being guided by what had happened on another Focal body. After welcoming new members, Mr. Clay moved that the board should place on record, its appreciation of the services of Messrs. G. R. Hutchinson, M. H. Wynyard, J. B. Johnston and E. W. Indcr, former members of the board. A motion was also passed wishing Mr. F. A. Hellaby a speedy return to health.