HARBOUR BOARD AND ITS SECRETARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 29, 29 October 1907, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD AND ITS SECRETARY.

!WR.: ■FERCUSSON'.S ,REStGNATIOM,,r ? t REtAIINEp. EN^lfjE ( iipi. t '," tiiatvtlio. Cowmit'ted'.'renrc'ls/to .Jearhjpfro^ , " MVr.:.perg'usolh that )i'o is" 'u'riabte ,to Hcgo.tiato m the continuation ot his sofyices, and Bb'si'rcs tc p'lap.pn record..its:sehse ot thVeStrVriit! ValjltU sucfi services" to, the port, of.Wollingttn 3'iftj'V ihg'th'e:¥ajt:23i years;;, ,Fui;ther,v,\)i'e,Cq!J\ niitjeij;> recornmends to the BBardlthat an agreement bo wtt)y<Mr.',£erj]uSgtv, jnd'icated'iii's wiil'ingn'e'ss : to 'agrcetto-'tl^'.saTne^' 'for. tlio services, of MK..FcrgusbrL l as 'sVcretarV- - and engineer to terminate, on Jjlovcrhber and tiiat he be granted leave of absence froW May r .t, MS; and, thai ho/.for-a perfblit.bf fiv* .. years .from '1908,'.act,ai'corisUliihS fieift"! gincer'to the Board, if arrangomenf,could be ■made by hitnjo.that, effect! .his, fco ,as con- . suiting. i crinMi , e6r'Hb'be J Ssl)o-'|Selr' t a'i l ln^m' l such sunv'tb' cover "ail remuneration to" Kir.' FergiisCirt' ;; for''such consulting "services:" r,, ?■■>■■*')>"■ *'"■"».) -Thiis Was- : tlie" rcbrinimeiMalaon"t)M"'cami Vefofo" Wo, Harbour^ r ßoafd. ycstej ; hoonV.', „ I ,^iiii))itt^D _ ' "'%>£; oyejcjia'n JS»fir;..tß J diSc»ifstthS;."4ieslioVi.»ot'Xir(i(» Ferguson's rcsigiiation, afld'-'bh; rosuniing. opqu,:.mebtiiig 'a profecteSj 'aii'dj' at' ti'me^' 1 | Vjeiy. bitter-disciissibh^cnsiied;' ""'"~ ... „.. ■ t ■■.; MR;, Wil^D/WAWT§ kH9M, : /tC " ; The .having focmally''cbft'4'" , ' ■ beforp, the ; sot.tlic~.bail.of contfovbrsy-in hlbtiohn— sired to ask at the outset: what had.tealljr brought about.'-Mri Vcsignatioh)' He did not understand .it. fepeakiiig as.the second member of ..tho. lioardj. so,..far..a»._ seiii6rity''was c'oiicOrnetl,-ho..could hot 'undor*'" n'ccbKity,.,.|(^' i 6uciit;)ai a . ■ change after Mr. Ferguson had held his post "< glison, had madcrthc port of Wellington ttii',;; , admiration.. of Austi , alasia- ) -..aiid *-' weighty niiitters f bvery■'iliii-bbui 1 ■ ■BoM^ o iiV I 'Ne'# ~ laiiti h'n(l' l boi-rd l Prt! : d-hiS,bi^ihs;'"!!^'!]^^^^!!"" ..- to the mSmbciß of tho Board u'* alkili); eiicy* clbpsediaj-wlfe'tlier bn'imge'qiVcs't'ibiis'iiit'o'' the dock.br- the hlost niiimtU-mattors; of detailr-— ' The resignation : ft-ns, a calamity, 'which Board'Wo'uld'tako.'a'i'ong wliiie'?'tb i *6verc6Tiie^'J , 'ahti it that ■ ,'■ siicli a severance been:pri' velitedi.'iy He ..was. uiiablb-tp- ascertain bft'om , . - inquiries he.' had made^or T fi ; bril''ai.i|tilji'ilg''tid could sep .hilnselT,. brpugh,% ; aliti^6; > ..) thte'.'seye'rant'e: 'He , did , n'ot' I belieyb ing'|l\'b salary the. Board, wits, plying, -that-..- V Mr. r ,F,ftrg*Vsoll r 'i;p,\ild. 'tb/bo^ei; spi|i,ljand ithore piust-.ibc*; sbhie'tiiihg -wanting-'' bn,i'tllb/!part;Of';th^^ of : iiiS" capacity lin'd .tqi i •hibn'fc-.- Thp; ; thing, by way of ■epmplaiisS''-'" -. . that ho had.)ie'ard ag'airist]M ( .ttiat lie \\ ; as ; a filiblSessftil administrator ...unless be \ih. tibi strfeii^th. of his expbrielic'b'" aiid" BbiiVictiqiie ;" and"lt was^largciy»ra-'.iilaWei r -'bf'view ; -\'is' , what euilstitutecl.tjie ; ..autbbraW. \\\ fcoliiij'pf." ' MJ , .;-ForgusDn"bad ablbinfol'lilatibil, wlii^ijt' ,fqr;~ mbnjbers of: the Bbiirdrtb ,'4p:'witlibut'.,' ' They had' a.il'ioalVcd; pii"llin\ j',and 'how'.ni,s:pla'ce.".w, , is' J to bb' "fiKod'j.byi.apbtlioi' 'man .whoAKVould bi new to certain portioFis'-bf-tlio" work it was ha'ril'lb imagine; . _

■ JJrv.fWilfohl:. ■to tisfe"'lie. the r^'ro >v,t.tff'oflibfj; :i ThoyAiy.nuichspda'k tiioro cioqttbiitty.'tljan ah?/; , ' "words l $f lie ;sjiid../ Lh. lSSdj,' wfei ,M.'iy£ Ferguson the service-of' tin?. Boardj- 1 '-! tii(^"'-riumber J, Wi tcsSßls hmvihg' at the wat 1 1925f r m : 1907 H'liil , 'number' was. 33DS>V,"j OtjipXr figures wore , -as 'follow:—Tonnage of febfcp-in \ \ genera.!:.goa'ds/ayei:.,wharYcs .(including ,tr(iu- .. fehip'nldiit's)' aiiiDlihteil to 106|5()o tons' in 1884]"* ajttl 422,Bl^.tpns,i!Y , i907OiTimber handled \a 1884 tb.taUp,44j§ o4 4?S_, superficial ifcO7, ii; 635,245 fcet:;,Vppl: ,and hemp'(out; wards) in 1884; tifiU- bales;' iii 1907, ualtjsj value df'tlie , as'stts ;'dt'tfie'.lJoard in "lfsf- 'il38,18i; in. 1907;; £808,8191- capitii expended since lSSij £BG/,319 ;, sinking fUild ' in '1884, wagersiiceiiiii I^4 il -tajjjl.',... it£1 ! 8",526,i,,-i)i". J ;pD.7 i; ,-wagcs,; £?.5,8G3, £D4otJr'total '05,269;"'. permanent/staC.ni - IR34j 82; in ,1907, 277 [ weclcly casual, lianas, : . in leftii W iii ftii-Miigiitlt payment of wages iii 18S4, £400; in 1907j .■53717:-'<:rNotliiliii'Obiild spealc'lndfuieioqu^litl^..' figures, siii'Jiir. WiJford 5 aiid" Uβ wmild—iiko-sdmb'-itiembqr -.of ~tlic"-B6ard~fc» bffof some to, how tlip.geveraiice had been brought ai'otit.'.' It iiSU' bceli said that no'man was aiiijjiio- Board . might be able tcf'got'linbii'fti'lltf Jli' v Fcrglison's *brk, bht the loss dr his services -would MR." FLETOjiiR:;hEPLiES:fd:CR!tICSL>.

Rbmsrkfifg''afc ; fc!ib'ouiSei; that 'lie cpuid';ti6| prbt(!iid to atlytliiiig like tlitirbriilra^ce^ffi'' , " AVilforci l'.ait: .siiivivu'i.*>Mr»j ,iA'll.ojtchjjr .ifpgerato (lofuhd.liis position. . iie had bceii. adversely, and tiiijustly.'criticised, lib said, and accused ot bringing' : nbmiV;,tiio - Mr. tioj ' \Vitli other iiionibers of tlio lieard aud.tlic. coiiijniiiiity geuerallyjgreatiy l-'qg'Vetted that Mr. Ferguson should' have seei'i lit- to ; sever hisj fcbimection with: tlid ■; Board, but iis to the' 1 reason attributed lor" iiis.rcsigllatibnj.be. (Mr. iypAcbcii), ppuld.jiqtj:, licrsiiadc himssif it.".wss.tiiu,'feal reason—liq rel'drrcd -to' thb reason set forth ill the letter written by ■ • : If i thiit"was< ttio ..real..reiisohi tiibii ;; if' be;t6ta!ly' n iliA'ddqiiate. Nlr. coiiiiNio'fc"' iiave'taken exception becauso ho (the speaker) asli'eiiiy c'b'iiirtiiaii'.s.'rU.ling as.t6.Vh'6tli6r'tlie 1 .s'ecrethVy was entitled .'tß,.''tali6''part in the"'* ■'discussion.roferred to".''-Ile'lia.cV up'objection . t'b any niomb'ef" asking idvico From Mr. Fer-_ guson involving tcelmical or- Dxpert- r kiiowjl'ipuld ..of,,the ' iliiiiself. A good deal of.unjust criticism Hal , bandied " , .tl)6iit l 'in'-regard'ttl:his"actioii iii the matter.; the.question which broached the matter'objected to Was purely tine of f'otitiiie • blisiiibss—a's"•' toi'\yli6lhcr"3in'ii.bftlor jiape'r ptiglit' , to''boMti'tiie hands of members linfbi'f tliif ineetiiig took place. Siirelj , that was a fair, and reasoii:(sle_..t]uestioli.j_p__ajk. If tiie Boird wore not capable to decide tlir.tj tlio; s6oneV;'.thoy.'4ii&)iv;cd : ;and;'a.jit?S ; ed \i\ff."liusitiess to'lioiconductiid .by.,'ofie"mali 'the" ;iiettor. He recognised-Mr. Ferguson's ability as much as anybody did, bfit'Hio whole matter.'.-of. ability .bad been . raised ; ;io - clqiid/.; the real issue; • The'question; , of , ability viva?.'-, ncypc.njt, stake at all.

; certain members of the , . Board had who at- , tacked their in'thc PrcteS';"Ahd he objected ;,vory.; srrpntrly, to; the aiitocradid

■■ "attitude...taken ( lip by a certain member. Thero had been effusions in tho Press, inspired by a cprtain inembor-r-:- -.;.■ Mr. Beauchamp: Well, namo him. ; ■ :■'•'' '* Mr. Fletcher: Oh, it isn't necessary; wo all Enow him. ; -• -■■ -■''• •• /-JiK, 'Beauchamp -still 'persisted •'. that Mr. '. : ''. ;, '' Fletcher shonld " namo him."■■'■''' " ■ ''■•■'' ;, Mr. Fletbhor: -"'/Very-well then; I refer ;..'.-;..'.to'MrYßcattchamp.-; This , was th.o only ;;..:.: member ..of- tho Board whp,..was guilty of a f . .distinct breach of cpnfidon'co ili handing over '; /to tlie Press sidocument', "which was con-. -■:-'''fielential, and which ought never.'-, to have "■!'■•'•■ ibeen -given- to. the/ Press.' , .-. Mr...Fletcher ~,< 'proceeded, to protest; against ,'tho nmvarrant- ,,, ..ablo attack on fellow 'members; and himself ■';'' 'jin particular, 'made by Mr.••Beauchamp.-in ";'■'*■ --the-course' of an interview..; : They- we're told ■'X ': -in those 'remarks, that - certain,, members of .)■.'.■ -the, Board were using'their position for poli■vni.,lM9s purposes. ' So Far as ho was concerned, '"'"''"'' be'gavo the statein/entan 'unqualified denial;. (i: • 'I lib h'atl •no political or. ..any other ■ axo,, to ■-■ '■'' 'grind,, ai.d ,it 'wasCa .Vci ; y.-.poor thing for. •y.;.,,' tho member naaed to go .out of-his. way-to . ■" :' '.his follow Any question. i''"' '.that'he' personally "had''brought" beforo tho '•.'''''■" Board:"had ''been" from 'the-highest' 1 'motives :':'-vand, in the. interests of the community, but {on many occasions ho had encountered; , - -i- (opposition from'-a" quarter that ho .had .not ■ ■■.:';; expected.. "Their 'they" were told about : ""'■-'' "'the J domination' of- , -'the 'Board; for ■ years-i !("■'■' '/past'there; had been a -.certain- individual on , 1 : - *tho. > Board -who -had, always -, ..dominated-: it., >... : ...,. Then,as. to, tho...reference, '.to'politics, they ,'' I ,' tnew 'that'the gentleman ■ referred , to had- ■■-■•■>■■ '.lieen associated with , political questions, and .w '.'.perhaps, not of theibest or- most-creditable land. ' ■ ;"--.?-,;-■ ••■■■•■ ■. ... .1, Mr. Beauchamp- indignantly ' intprjected.:.- '-'""'.■ I 'rise td'a'paint ,df order:' If. is ' not - right. ' V ,;, ""that lie'should ;bo; allowed -'to cast such -a'serions reflection '~o'n- mfi.""Ho says -"not--of, ■•■'■• ■?» 'particularly creditable character.'.' ' .• < ■ ,'"■' ■ The Chairman T.',;K.' Macdonald): ,'■ '~; | -'NoJ''ii'"is not'jriglit for'atiy'meniber'td make" /:*'' 'ftt p3rsonaT'imputati6n''bf "that 'kind" "-.■■'■' i - \ Mr. Fletcher: Oh,"all right, if'itiliurts his ■^'■■-"•".. ,■,.',. t'. : '. - ' ■'■ : '. ■'■■ '.'' : ' Vi', ; ,<..-," %•, Beauchamp:. l .Tou_don't hurt ; my ■ feel- ," '"sngs-^-tbatV'not• th'e'point." ' '.i'''..' ■'••■''' *::*-' jf '■' Mr'.' j.'Fletcher':" Then I -Hviil - withdraw I it.""■"■■'"iHei'did'n't'.'.thirik :of : 'that,--.though,-when he >~ ■■|-.;OTshed into.print with.statements that were

.;.... ...absolutely untruo. ;" ■ ; . . v- : "'■l.- ■-';'"' Mr-.'Seaiichamp, with much' heat , , again ■"■ ■'''' ''rdsS'td a'pb'int'.of order. '"He'has noriftht »!;.'■ 'i tto'say'it ■was"untrue,'-'':ho declared heatedly. ■i' ;- t> Mr».Flet.chcr v ,:.,./!!yery'iwell then,. 1,.wi1l say ■lit vias inaccurate, instead of untruo,' if' lio pike's ;.that'-better,-btrtrthp meaning is -the; . •'... -earney! . It- was certainly . inaccurate. It-is . '■'}■£ most Mrifaif' for, a member of -this Board to -■attack his fellow-members through the press; and then wken.,th'e,matter comes before'the Board he is the first to' object." Mr. Flet- : oher said he would not-say any more about ■•■ '"political pfirposes.!'... The-, public -knew very. *ell about that'..' "■"■: '• ■•■ "■■' \ / ■■;■.■;■■■: . -' . '.>■-.; ■ :■:;. too much tcensorship. ! ";"• ■*'■ VAs" to the, methods of tho "Board, ' lie had .; always objected that too much work was dono "Committee, and- that.vtliere.'.was.too. much, '"'V ! to'Hsprship'ovor the press. , 'Ho.should:always* .•'i'l'.i. advocate '-the"fullest , .publicity; ; the ■, public ... --.Wanted-.to know a, good deal of. the m«inage- ;. ~,,.inontiof..that institution; He was 'quite satis.s;;-:... ■;.fied., l t'o .leave ..the,,matter, so,far as.he was .;■;-.'■./;concerned,,;in the handsi'bf the public. .They .■»„:' wore-the'best people to judge hini. In every ;,;■,;', 'phase 6'f':hi& relationship with Mr. Ferguson" '; : : ;"iVhh;had"always' paid 'him 'tho' respect due to '•' him' as an officer 'bf'thp-Board and a gentlo , ; ';.' nian; ho admired and respected him- as much ■'"' as anyone, and perhaps: he had known him '' '• longer than!many members- as an, employer -I. and otherwise. In : ,regard; to. tho.;'third part. :•>-.",-;..0f .tho resolution-arrived at in Committeo, lit" , ,;■;..; '}, thought it,,wpuld to have .held a speeial meeting to. consider, the whole. .-■'..;■ question .of. reorganisation before aiiy'altera-' ... ...'tion was made. He-Would bo''as pleased as 1 ,; , _ 'anybody for Mr.' Ferguson to act as'.consult- '' .; ing ongineqr, but before framing a resolution ;'."■_■ 'of that kind it-would have- been better to ,',''> go into the whole -question.- ..in conclusion, '■' -r , ' Mr: 'Fletchor roitoratbd that, statements' lied been made to the press'by a. member- of tho Board which were inaccurate—if that were a moro suitable.w.ord, though it v had the same : moaning as another and stronger term. .;,,. , ,MR. BEAUOHAMp'S, SPEECH. ,; : ,,/ ~ln'rising, to jejily, Mr.'.Beauchamp said/ho . Jiad .listened to. Mr. Fletcher's'carefully-pre : :: ■ ■.-.: -pared speech,; and'it did' not coucern him in .-.!.-..-.. - the .least; he- would .leave, the-" public , ' to-judge %• ;..■,::.;.between thorn.',..,','He-..did.'not mention Mr!J,-,... Flotcher's name/'at all in;.tho''interview,-hilt- -.'..-..:; evidently thV. cap fitted,;himj "and he wa> ;>.,. .quite at liberty, to 'wear-.it':" ;.•''•"■ '', : •;. ~ • Mr. Hislop r.ose.tq;a.jidint':of' r ofder: slr: ■■,:■ ~ Beauchanip was attributing jiolitital niotiyes ~-,, ~to, Mr. Fletcher, and.tho .ruling'that bad a1,;:;^.,-ready-,;:;^.,-ready been given would'apply io Mr.'Beau- |".:, -"champ also. ".' "" ; '"■' ■' : " ' ;: '; v "? ' - -The. Chairman upheld 'Mr.' His'.op's point. ...,.;.., .Conthuiinn, Mr. Beaucliiimp said'.Mr, Flct-J ... .oher had indulged in a policy'of piri-prickirig' • . ever since be becanio a member of the Board. J: ~Ho was.'quito'.satisfio'd wlieii Mr.'Fletcher ~: , ;'.. started on that.-career,.tha't it' could only end ,;-:,, in ,the' onO;Way—tlie severance of Mr. Fergu--1 ' 'At all'.'times'he (Mr. Fletcher) , : .-. had oviiiced a strong,desire'.to let Mr. Feri'.",., fius'dit. know' thathe was" masfcb'r! " 'V;','-;;";-Mr; Fletcher'i.lfis'ilntrue.' , . : f : ' ' ;"■, ;,. ./Mr. Beauchamp, continuing,■ said ,no man ;;;_'''; of; Mr. yerijuson'-s position and would ""■"'" Bubriut'to ii;.' 'They might' , as'well'go'-on ;■'■■;; digging-spurs into thp flank!? of a'racehdrso ~u,-. and expect it-not to run away.-' " I maintain ;r- -'that-I of 'that'document',"' '"".'■". he' added'.'-,' '■' '■' v'-i-' , '- ';■-:.»-,.■ - I ■;,,. „~- Mr .••Fletcher: Mr.'.. Fergason himself said

;80.--i- ■■•'• ■■• '■ ■ ■■ • • ■■■ -"- '■ •■■ ■ ■ ■-. . Mr. Beauchamp: "It was not'marked pri-' ' vato ,'or confidential, 'arid.'it was .addressed to the chairman arid members , of the Board, ■yl , also- know that Mr.' Ferguson's resignation wasknown to othersoutside; aridrthere- ' forp,- .when • the ' press representative i spoke ■"■■■to-''irie,"l":-was ■ iijsiified' i J\ t handing the- docu•;ment 'to him,-■and I am-quite prepared, to "take'responsibility for"it." 'Continuing; Mr. Beaucliamp. said ho•had'joprcseilted the ratepayers continuously since 1895; and hewould -'deiiy 'that'l'ho had" ever at- ■ tenlpted'tb' dominatrthe'Board:''How, could lie'dominate'-nil the, other members? it was !■ ••--As-to-'the press,' -lie'-had- no influenco with it whatever. Ho was not , a share- ■ holder in any newspaper,'.'arid he had iio '.fiduciary interests in 'any,,pap.er';jh this city. But the document-was not' placed- in his hands under the seal of confidence. Coming ■to W '"thought"it was a calamity that it should have'been brought ■ -about. But- h<? 'could' not' say that it came as'a great -surprise,'^because' \a number/ of people' m the -town"predicted' that it would ''." bo' brought 'about' a, month or, two .before, it ' occurred.— Ho-fully endorsed the : remarks -made by Mr. Wilfofd. ■ Miv Ferguson, "had carried- out' his 'duties with conspicuous .. -ability; with' th'o result''that no port in any ■. part"of '.th'o world '.was,'so well equipped—for '•'lt's; sfeo-^as':''Wellington Was../ And' nmv, '■ whilst^'they wero -involved in the' great ' . scheme- that was' originated , by 'Mr.- , Ferguson they were .'_ losing ' him—swapping horses •-whilst"; crossing ' the , .stream:'.;. However, to have him as consulting entcineor was the next best thing"."■■ They' Had undertakings in hand -.involving.over £300,(100, and..there,werp other" 'Diattors'coming .forward 'shortly "to the p» teiit of about £150,000, so that within tho next five years they would he spending somc- , .thing like half; a, million sterling. The success of a , public: body, or company was duo •almost wholly'to. the ability of its chief cx- • 'eculive "officer, _and , hs' nicmbers' thoy w'ero "■preserit at'mcetiiig's really' to discuss matters ; of; policy with that, officer,.not to interfere with him in the carrying out of details. .The bad work; of 'many, public bodies was ~ duo to the fact that they .were composed of amateur , engineers. ,, Hrnv they hnd an engineer in 'whom-'they had tho fullest confi;'dence, ' and yet there'wa.'i a member constantly' talking at him;ahbut "hole aiid ■,c-OTncr''' ])ro(;;'c,diiigS| ":star chamber" prac- ' tio'os and,.so forth, and.stating that the casual labourers on .the wharf were treated .-likp . serfs, instead of human beings. When they had : a man of indepefulenco and selfrespect as chief executive ofticcr, there could be only one result to such a policy. Thero had been a. constant policy of pin-pricking, ;and on the present occasion he quite agreed with Mr. Plutcher—for onoe—that there 'should be full discussion in public meeting. But in ; questions concerning office management and such details,-it'was-far'better, to thrash them out in committee. He had had sufficient experience of politics, however, to know. . Chat-when .a gentleman was seeking a position elsewhere, it was better to talk to the gallery through discussions on a public bo'.'y.

Mr. Flotchor:• -This is sickening, this everlasting cry' About "talking , to the gillery. Mr. Boauchamp added Mint there were one or two members of that Board who were-not momborsof Parliament yet, but would bo trying very , .; hard to get there shortly. REMARKS BY MR.. HISLOP. The' Hon. T. W.Hislpp said ho ,did not agree with Mr. Beauchamp that it. had been a happy discussion.' They, might have accoDtSa ilr Weuson's: resignation with re-, gre and exposed satisfaction Uiaf k« cont lining as consulting engineer, without indulging-in- personal criticisms of each other uo Hiio ho had heard; many ekprou-. sions coi.cen.ing Mr. Bcanchamp and polMcs but as one who .liked .to .at-trinuto tlio. best motives to-others he had passed them as.de. Hitherto he had given credit, tor ig ood motives, but.- in futW, whou ho saw Air. Beauchamp talting .any particular, acion, Snd thereT was a-question of motive, he should ■'feel"iricliiicd to say a selfish motive ■ was behind Mr. Beauchamp. ' Mr. Boauchamp:,-. J iidgiug by your own standard.. ' - :-...■:■ ■'■ •■ ■ . ■ ' , ' Mr. Hislop: No, judging by. tho .statements you havo made, but don't interrupt please; I didn't, interrupt, you. Take your punishment kindly." Continuing,-ho said Mr. Beauchamp had- stated that' .tho document from Mr.'Ferguson w'nV-hof jiiarked private -or confidential. Well, all :he could say was that anyone who had the instincts or,a certain typo—ho. would noi use the word— those instincts would' have dibtated to him one of two courses—whether -.' it was confidential, 'or if not whether he should nol; "enquire from tho chairman'what w;.s tho proper course to pursue. He was not. ware whether Mr. Beauchamp was "in the know ,, before tho resignation.'was.;sont in, ,but it looked very much like it. When he Hisliip) ''l'ecoiycd the resignation the first 'thing he did was to wonder how far ho had contributed to the unfortunate position, because ho bad not.looked forward to it as Mr. Beauchamp confidently did.'Ho would cartairily have liked, boforo tho trouble was accentuated and' inadu 'public, to have seen whether some modus yivendi could not bo i'eachcdi 'Ho would have liked to consult .with Mi\-Ferguson, in'order that feelings of-'irritation should not. bo--accentuated. Ho did riot 'know whether the .'resignation was irrevocable, , :lottor 'was sent, but what Mr.' Beauchamp did accentuatcei tho position,, and was very because it closed the d00i ,,, against reconciliation. Be■'fcrring.,to .tho;'remarks about politics,-' Mr. Hislop said some people entered politics for the pi'irpose.'.of becoming- gracious with tho Jiowers , ' that'bq, in'ordpr to bo in the running for. certain positions, that were' at tho disposal of tlioso powors. ( The man who., was most dangerous was the man who changed his position and his opinions for the purposo of' getting monetary positions. Thero ,was no' danger .from tlio person , who came' out into the open. As the Chief Justice said at a .'meeting recently; they should .Jet the free wind' of "discussion' blow. " But ho would not like''to go to the papers for the purposo of men who were sitting round the samo' table with him. That kind; of thinfe 'should be.'dono- when 'they 'wero together at; the 'table'. 'AVlien-.V a' member' said of another tlwt ho used; his;position, to shape his-sails"j:o tho winds'that blew outside, ho said!something that reflected on himself;'.it was'itho brie, who attributed such . motivesthat'was the meaiv man.. 116 regretted, very" much that ho liad;' to' say/.that ; because— Mr. Beauchamp:'• Oh,, don't regret it; 1 don't'.' .-■.''■: ....,-■'<■■'.-" ■ ■'-, . ■ Referring again, to Mr. Ferpison's letter, 'Mr Hislop said it , was-remarkable''that ovory momber but'Mr./Beauchamp hold it to be confidential, and; believed that the interests 0f..-!tho Board aiid'Mr, .Ferguson -woiild bo bettor'-served by. it. being/considered by tho mbmbers- before'-it : :ivent forth ,tothe : public. ■However.' , it had'been dono now, and ho thought it would be wise'for the Board to lay down some rulo for future guidance in reference to resignations'and matters of that kind. As ,to .Mr. Ferguson's loss, they all regretted it, and-he darefl say" tjioso who did iiot talkso much regretted it quite as much as those who were'pffusivp, and could not resist a reporter.;. He had had to onposc Mr. Forgu-spn'-at times,, but thfiro had never been any' personal feeling in his action.' MR. SHIRTCUFFE'S VIEWS. " Mf'Shirtcliffe said he'heartily .ag'reed with the remarks in praise of Mr. Fergus'on.; But there was one clause in Mr. .Ferguson's letter that ho. was voiy' sorry to'see, y because ho did not think tho circumstances quite justified it. Mr; ■' Ferguson ■'■" he was compelled, with much-lemctance,' to cohcludb that he had lost the confidencc'.ahd respect-of tiro,majority of the present members." With : all deference to Mr. Ferguson, ho did not think thitt was the "position. There. was no, doubt that-of late thci'e had been , many occasions which must have given rise-to a feeling .of irritation in the. mind of .JMr.-- FerguEon, but to say that'.hp' had- lost -thc.-coniidenca. of -.the majority' of the- meinbors was quite erroneous. He was'certain .the'majority of the members had the greatest -confidence in Mr. Ferguson's ability engineer, and.secretary, and his single-minded 'purposo in guarding the .interestsl of itho port. 'With regard to the. letter of resignation/ when he:received It ho at:once turned it.dpiyn, because.ho regarded it' as; a:.,cpnndontial.:communication pending' its 'Consideration by tho Board. ;,.._, Hcvwould not on any account have disclosed the terms of the lctter;to tho Press or any individual. It Avas very desirable that ill'matters of that kind tho Board-should haye an .opportunity of• oonsidering the - question • before it was handpd to the -Dress'. \. Theref ore he .very much regretted ..that 'the Jette'r'wa's handed over for publication':. -■ With -regard to ,tlie. circuin-vstances-;:,leading.' up :to-.-Mr.' Ferguson's .decision,' 1 tho 'matter' on-which' tho chairman's ' ruling .'was--'asked was 'in regard to whether the order paper'sliould,be-sent out four days prior to the meeting-.;- "'Tho statement was . made' that that ywould' entail a considerable a'mbunt\''bf'-'extra work* on. the staff, and he (Mr.' Shirteliffe) askeii for' an expression, of opinion'frohi'Mr; , Ferguson' on that phase of the nlktterj'arid not on the 'general -question of sending out the order paper. Hβ thought that;.questipn could havo been put without 'any:harm'resulting.' Mr! Ferguson occupied a.'unique;position on tho'Bpa'rd; ho was not a more secretary taking the minutes. Ho was. the' adviser'of tho 'Board, arid the-member, who objected to the question 1 "was" - ill-advised iii iiis action. '. ''. '.','"■" . •■',.•■ Mr.''Fletcher:'-Mr.. Chairman, that; is not quite fair..' Mr. SllirtclifFe asked for an oninion dn.thc'.geileral'mdfion'. ', . ' ;;*Miv Shirtoliifb:N9, I didn't. .'Mr. Hislop; yps,"ypu'did.'! . Mr. Fletcher: He did. I to.pk a" note of it. .He*.is.-not, right.. ,',.',-. ' ' ; .Mr. Shirteliffe. reiterated' that his question only involved the extra' wiir.k 1 referred to. He hoped. that; in future tliv. , . ' would make arrangements that '. would tnable their ch'iif oxecutive officer to have, a voice on the Board, but no-vote. It was very desirahlo with such enormous works going on. As to tho • alleged censorship of-tho Press, ho had liotbeen a member long,''but he had never found that too little information was given to the papers.. There.were sortie matters that ought to be.threshed biit in committee before they.-came up ,in public meeting; Ho disagreed with members who said they must ho allowed to talk to the public on every question, that came, up.- . ' ' ' ■' Mr. Hislop:; Nobody ever said that.* Mr. Shirteliffe: That is the moaning. • " Mr. Hislop.: It- is not. ' Wo talk to tho Council. .'•"'■' ' •■•■•.' Mr. Beauchamp:' We are not in the Council here. '-' ..'-,' ' '' ; ' ' Mr. Hislop: No, that is why If eel in such very good company, here. ; .. Mr. Boauchamp: Yes, your education will improve if you sit here long enough. , Mr. Hislop: On the down-grade. Mr..Wilford: Tut, tut; none of that. THE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS. The Chairman (the Hon. T..K. Macdonald) said there had been a good deal of thunder, and he hoped it would leave the atmosphere much clearer for future meetings, jlo was sorry so much personal Tiittemuss had been imported into -the discussion, which ought to have been of a pleasant , nature. He regretted the question was asked at , tho beginning as to what was this especial reason at the bottom of the retirement, because the matter had been dealt with in committee "Tho letter which Mr. Ferguson sent to every member, includiiig the chairman/' he added, '! was not intended in any sense or shape for publication; I have-Mr. Ferguson's assurance for that. Had he was going into tho Press it would have been worded in dif"erent terms." Thcrcforo, it was a matter

of deep regret to him when he saw the lotter published, and ho was sure that when Mr. JJeauchamp thought'longer over the matter ho would see that lie Jiad made a blunder in giving the letter and an interview. To call fellow-members names . and accuse, them of political motives was a blunder, and it was a very, great pity it was donu. When he received Sir; -Ferguson's lotter, ho was going to see him about it next morning, but the pullicatinn of it prevented him. It left no chance of discussing the matter calmly. Mr. Macdonald went on to pay a warm tribute to Mr. l<cr<;.uspn!s.ability and consciontiousnass, and also defended Mr. Fletcher's actions, pointing out that the latter always acted within his rights, and was actuated by zeal for the public good. - Mr. Beaiieharap: I ask to make a personal explanation. I am in a position to prove that the'fact that Mr. Ferguson had tendered his resignation was known to some gentlemen-, outside- this Board, before I received the document on Friday. Air. Hislop: It makes all the difference as to who those people wero. Discussion then dropped, and- the report of the committee was adopted without dissent.