PATENT SLIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1907, Page 8

PATENT SLIP.

HARBOUR BOARD'S POSITION' FURTHER DISCUSSED. SPECIAL MEETING TO BE CALLED. The trouble which has been caused through the announcement that tho Union Steam Ship Company had acquired a large interest in the Patent Slip Company, was further aired at the meeting of the Harbour Board this [ afternoon, when tho following resolutions, passed by an emergency meeting, were submitted for the approval of the board : — "That the solicitors of the Wellington Harbour Board be instructed to take steps to acquire the property and assets of the Patent Slip Company, .either at a price to be mutually agreed upon, or compusorilv. That' the secretary of the board do instructed to take such action as may bo npcessary to give proper effect to the above resolution." The chairman (the Hon. T. K. Macdonald) said that members were well aware of >vhat had been done. Was it, he asked, the pleasure of the board that the resolutions should be adopted? Mr. Wood asked if the board had rights under the Act? The chairman said that the statements he had made were based on tho advice of the solicitors. He had a letter from the "Union Company, and, as it was clear that they could not get through the business to-day, ho suggested that it would bo well to have a special meeting to-morrow to consider the question of the acquisition of the Patent Slip. Sir. Fletcher brought up the question of the publication .Of tho business transacted at the last meeting in committee. The" chairman replied that it was the practice to givo* tho representatives of the press the gist of what was done in committee after the meeting. Tho chairman also complained of the publication in a morning paper of the confidential reports of Messrs. Morton and Richardson on the Evans Bay scheme. The premature publication of reports of this kind might be followed with serious results to the board. It would be impossible to do business if •such a practice was allowed to continue. The reports had obviously been furnished by a. member of the board or the City Council. Mr. Bcauchamp said he had occasion to make certain statements to representatives of tho press regarding the Patent Slip, but he had neither directly nor indirectly given any information to a press reporter concerning the Evans Bay scheme. Mr. Wood said he thought any member of the board had a right to give his individual opinion on any question of public interest without divulging what had been dono by the board. , The chairman entirely disagreed with this view. "No member could disassociate himself in his private capacity from his position as a member of the board. He had no hesitation , in saying that, his friend Mr. Beauchamp had acted quite .vrongiy •> Mr. Beauchamp: That is your opinion. Mr. Macdonald : I say no man Is justified in giving (outside the board) information to the press without the authority of the board. I am going to ask the board later on to be good enough to hold a special meeting to discuss the whole question to-mcrrow. Mr. Beauchamp said that a statement had been made at tho meeting of the board by the chairman that- the Gas Company had abandoned its option over the Patent Slip. He had pointed out that this was not so. "I think," Mr. Beauchamp continued, "that this charge which has been made against- mo by the chairman is most indecent. You are too ready to listen to anything that is said by Mr. Fletcher, 'it is very wrong." The chairman said that- at the special .neeting the whole of the correspondence on the question would be placed before the board, and members would then be able 'to understand the whole position. '"Naturally," he concluded, "the chairman of the board loo"ks with some suspicion at the matter after what has taken place in a case where members are pledged to secrecy." Mr. Beauchamp : I was not pledged to secrecy; you are quite wrong, I have never been pledged to scerecy in respect of any matter dealt with here, and on which I - have afterwards spoken. I have not disclosed the contents of any document that has como before me." Mr. Boauchamp was proceeding when ho was interrupted by the chairman, and ruled out of order. He was not, he said, going to have the whole matter discussed at this stage. After some further discussion the atmosphere cleared, and the resolutions wero approved. Some members stated they could not attend the special meeting if it was fixed for to-morrow. The date of the meeting was accordingly .allowed to stand over till the principal business has j been dealt with.