Harbour Board rejects resignation call

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 2

Harbour Board rejects resignation call

Blenheim reporter

Elected members of the Marlborough Harbour Board have no intention, individually or collectively, of resigning as a result of the Harbours Appeal Board decision that they wrongfully dismissed the general manager, Mr M. J. Goulden. Members want to work towards achieving his reinstatement as soon as possible, if that is his wish. The Harbour Board decided at a special meeting in Picton yesterday to advise the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, that it had performed its functions effectively and efficiently in the past and was still able to do so. Mr Prebble will also be advised that the board declines an offer by the Wellington Harbour Board to act as a caretaker. The Harbour Board has set up a sub-committee comprising the chairman, Mr B. J. Dalliessi, deputy chairman, Mr G. H. Robb, and a board member, Mr

G. S. Fuller, to discuss with Mr Goulden and his advisers the appeal decision with a view to resolving the differences between the parties. The sub-committee is expected to report back to the board as soon as possible. The decision of board members not to resign did not meet with Mr Fuller’s approval. He doubted that

Mr Dalliessi could remain in office in view of the appeal board’s findings. "The tribunal places total emphasis on you and some board members as being responsible. It is too late now to talk of reconciliation. I feel this board should resign,” he said. Mr Dalliessi said board members were free to resign over the issue if they wished. He gave each member, including Mr Fuller, the opportunity to do so but all declined. Support for the stand taken by board members has come from the executive of the Picton branch of the Harbour Boards Employees’ Union. They have advised the board that it would not be in the best interests of the board or its staff for any member to resign before the end of the three-year term. Mr Dalliessi said that it could take two or three weeks to sort out with Mr Goulden what he wanted before he returned to

work, if it was his intention to do so. He asked board members to “bury the hatchet” and accept the decisions made at the meeting. The special meeting came after a request by Mr Fuller to Mr Prebble that a commission be appointed’to run the board until the October election. Mr Prebble advised the board by letter that he had no legal powers to make such an appointment. According to a written legal opinion from the board’s counsel, Dr G. P. Barton, no express power has been conferred on the Harbours Appeal Board to award costs to Mr Goulden or to the board on the hearing and determination of the appeal. On the question of Mr Goulden’s reinstatement as general manager, Dr Barton said a decision- of a Harbours Appeal Board was not self-executing. Its majority decision to allow Mr Goulden’s appeal did not operate automatically to reinstate Mr Goulden.