"A SORE POINT."

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 2

"A SORE POINT."

■ «- PUBLIC MEN AND TENDERS. MR. T. BALLINGfiR'S PROTEST.; When the question of appointing a piesident came before the Industrial As-i tociation at its meeting last evening, and Mr. E. Bull, the prct>ont chairman, reiterated his plea of inability to act through pressure of private business, M*. T Ballingor's name was mentioned as that of a man who had had a good deal of previous experience with past exhibitions. Mr. BaUinger was decidedly re, luctant, and voiced a grievance, evidently felt very keenly since his resignation from the City Council and the Technical Lducation Board. "If I become chairman," said Mr Ballinger, "I shall not be able to tender, for work."' (Loud laughter.) "It is a pretty sore point with me," continued, Mr. Ballinjrer seriously. /The Chairman: We are not tho City Council J ~ Mr. Ballinger: One newspaper talks about this sort of thing, and says it is » "swindle"— no, I should not say "swindle, but it calls it "pickings." The Chairman: That means practically the same as swindling. Mr. Ballinger: Parliament met and brought in a Bill— l think a very hit Bill— stating that a member of any company having over twenty shareholders could act on a council. The paper took it up and said a company could get more shareholders and "fake" the business. It had been discussed in the House, and they were going to "fake" the Bill to suit the newspapers, but no other trade. I feel pretty sore on this subject. 1 don't want to take any part in politics, but I say that any member of an institution interested in a thing had just as much right to tender as anybody outside, if not more — (Hear, hear.) — so long as there is no underhand work. The papers said it was done because something happened in Napier, but it did nofc concern a limited liability company, but a private individual. On these grounds I foel very reluctant to go on any public body. I left the Technical Education Board though I had no need to do so."- _ The Chairman urged that such con* siderations did not weigh with the In. dustrial Association. Mr. Ballinger : I don't go into anything to mako money out of it, but I am not going into anything to lose money. I lost a lot of money through being on the council. I think this association should have taken up the matter. I brought it up after the members of the press had left one evening — (laughter) — but no sim gle member made a move in that direc-i tion. A member: I hardly think it affect* the association. Mr. Ballinger: It is eithei right or wrong. T s it wrong ? How are you going to run the pity Council if members of limited liability companies aro not aN lowed to sit on the council! Run it by Socialists or anybody else ! The Chairman : l*hey ar« barring the cream of the commercial community. As Mr. Ballinger did not see his way to accept the position at the present juncture, it was decided to let the matter of the presidency stand in abeyance until the next meeting.