DRAINAGE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 15915, 22 September 1915, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD

The fortnightly meeting of the Drainage Board was held last evening and attended by Messrs J. S. Douglas (chairman), J. Small, J. Arlde. \V. Fai (|ulnuson, K. Kellett, 11. Wilson, J. A. M'Kinnon, and W. Belcher. Mr Small wrote resigning hi s position as chairman 01 the Finance Committee of the board. After several members had asked Mr Small to reconsider his decision Mr Small said he was willing to act in his present position, but he was afraid that the offices of chaiiman of the Finance Committee, of the board and chairman of the lunaiiee Committee of the City Council might conflict. In his own opinion it was scarcely right that he should be chairman ot both committees. He did not want to occupy an invidious position .Although he resigned bis position of chairman ot the Finance Committee, of the board he would always be willing to assist them m every way. He did'not anticipate any difficulty - in the board's fin ances but he thought that the duties of his office on both bodies would conflict in the future, as they had done before Further pressure was brought to bear on Mr hmai! to retain his-position as chairman ol the Fmance Committee of the board after which he said that, if it was the" wish ot members, he would continue in office, but immediately there was any conflict between the committees of both bodies he would ask the board's Permission to resign. —The Chairman: Mr Small in the circumstances, withdraws his resin-' nation. CT The Officers and Servants" Committee reported that, as the leave of Sec of the present secretary expired on the 30th beptember next, they recommended that as from that date the present actin<* see retary (Mr P. B. Foote) be appointed secretary to the board at a. salary of £2BO per annum, and that the present actiixr treasurer (Mr C. T. Lee) be appointed treasurer to the board at a salary of £260 per annum.—Mr Belcher moved "the adoption of the report.—Mr Kellett opposed it because he thought that the offices of secretary and treasurer should be combined. [ He tonsidered that the best interests of the public would be served by the offices I being held by one officer. If they separ- | ated the offices the secretary should rejceive- £3OO a year. He could see that | there was little chance of the board separating the two offices,.so he would move as an amendment that the secretary receive [ £3OO a year and the treasurer" £260 a year.—The amendment lapsed for the want of a seconder.—Mr Small said that, to -test the feeling of the meeting, he would move as an amendment that the two offices be combined.—Mr M'Kinnon seconded this amendment.—Mr Belcher said that the committee considered that the two Offices should be dissociated, but if the board thought that they should be combined, then they only had to say so. The- amendment was lo'st and the report adopted. Out of 46 applicants Miss M. Porteons was., appointed a-to the position of typiste at a salary of 35s a week.