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Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22705, 9 May 1939, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD VACANCY MR G. MANNING RECEIVES APPOINTMENT The briefest of discussions preceded the City Council’s selection last evening of the new member for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, to replace the late Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. The council had the following letter from Mr H. Holland: “I understand the City Council has the right to appoint a successor to the late Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., on the Lyttelton- Harbour Board. When the council is considering the matter, I shall be glad if it will take into consideration my claim for the seat, as I received 15,806 votes at the last election, being the largest number of votes of any unsuccessful candidate.” Cr. Sharp moved that Cr. Manning be appointed. He could only repeat briefly what he had said in the previ-

ous debate about the Fire Board. The. seat belonged to the Labour Party. His motion was seconded by Cr. T. Nuttall. ' Cr. T. Milliken moved, an amendment that Mr Holland be given the seat, and eulogised Mr Holland’s services on the board and also on the council. He said that the argument used in the previous debate —that it was a question of Labour gaining control —did not apply. The Labour members of the council had an opportunity to show fairness of spirit. “I wish to disagree with the amendment,” said Cr. M. E. Lyons. "This is a case where a Labour man should be appointed, but what I am going to say, I would like Cr. Manning to take in the best spirit. He is giving, of his best to the city; but I suggest to the council that his services are being overtaxed. He has the big job of chairman of the finance committee of the council; now we are asking him to accept another appointment. Any man who has the job of chairman of the finance committee must be hard put to it for time, I suggest the council should have regard to Cr. Manning’s health and well-being.” A Labour councillor: What about getting one of the medical men on your side to examine him? Cr. Lyons: If I did ask one of my medical colleagues here to make, such an examination, and possibly get a magistrate, too, Cr. Manning is not the first Labour member I would ask to have examined. Cr. Manning’s appointment was approved on the voices.