"FUNK, FUNK, FUNK."

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 7

"FUNK, FUNK, FUNK."

DR. THACKER'S LAMENT,

Dr. Thacker, M.P., Mayor of Christchurch, who is also a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, retired m high' dudgeon from the meeting of the Board yesterday when the Board, by vote, declined to allow the engineer to answer a question put by the Doctor on the Canal v. Port issue "Funk, funk, funk," lie declared as he battered his way out of the room, ' nothing but funk stakes." The incident arose from a question which Dr. Thacker put to the Board's engineer, Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, as to whether, that gentleman would say "straight out" whether, if Port Christchurch were built, he would prefer it to Lyttelton Harbour.. . Mr Williams: Before answering that I must ask the chairman to say whether the Board desires mo to answer the question. , ~ The chairman thereupon put the question to the Board, and the motion directing the engineer to answer ttie question was lost on the voices. "It's pure funk on the part or the Board," declared Dr. Thacker, ''for they know quite well what Mr Williams's answer will be. Mr Williams lias told me privately that Port Christchurch, if built, would be preferable to' Port Lyttelton." . A A member: If that was a private statement, you have no right to mention it now. , . Dr Thacker dissented from .this view." and left the room as above indicated.