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Evening Star, Issue 16033, 9 February 1916, Page 4

Matters of vital importance to the public Tvere set down for consideraShoals and tion at a special meeting of Secrecy, tho Otago Harbor Board last night, when there was provided an excellent opportunity for dispelling an apprehensive belief that shoals in the Lower Harbor recently hindered the navigation of large vessels, and necessitate expensive dredging operations; but the board with a lack of wisdom decided to exercise secrecy. The first of these important matters was the offer of Mr J. Blair Mason, who has creditably occupied the position of engineer to tho board at a salary of £I,OOO a year, to accept the post of consulting engineer at a salary of £SOO a year, with right of private practice; the second subject was the question of improving tho channel in the Lower Harbor with a view to enabling vessels drawing 28fb to navigate that portion of the Port of Otago at all states of the tide. Both questions obviously concern the condition of the Lower Harbor, and the public, who pay for the huge expenditure of the hoard’s operations, were entitled, to a plain statement of all the cirdi instances which precipitated special consideration. The board’s policy of secrecy 'will not remove apprehension as to the menace of silt at ion in the neck of the harbor. The occasion demanded complete candor and thorough discussion.

As regards the matter of Mr Blair Mason’s offer to accept the post of consulting engineer, it is probable that the board, in deciding to exorcise secrecy in its consideration, were actuated by a feeling of tender delicacy, but the manner in which they ensured that their deliberations would be hidden from the public was just the sort of procedure that creates dangerous and unkind gossip. The engineer’s record of service can withstand close scrutiny and candid discussion, and there was no need of secrecy on personal grounds. If the condition of the harbor is such as to render unnecessary the entire service and attention of Mr Mason, whoso complete knowledge of the harbor and its capricious peculiarities is neither possessed by his subordinate officers nor by the board, then the public were entitled to have the surprising truth demonstrated in candid detail. The obscure reason for the chairman’s suave suggestion that the reporters should retire will also prompt further suspicion; either that, or it must be taken as an unwarranted reflection on the probity of the. Press representatives. . “ In 20 years’ experience I have never known the Press reporters to do anything they should not do,” declared Mr Loudon—but the Press retired. It is only fair to say that it is usual for public bodies to take their committee work after open business, and that if reporters remain they do so not out of alert curiosity, but out of necessity to complete their work of reporting the preceding business, which, it will be conceded, is scarcely a'pleasant entertainment. In any case, it is ridiculous to suggest' that Reporters would abuse,confidences, for -one.

breach, apart from the question of honor, would close all avenues of information! It was obvious on this occasion that the reporters instinctively believed that although it might be expedient on the ground of sentiment for tho board to discuss tho engineer’s position in committee, the question as to the condition of the Lower Harbor would certainly be discussed in open council. But they had to retire in order to enable members to speak with freedom. What were the circumstances that required unhampered discussion? Probably tho conditions which' persuaded the board to decide upon dredging the approach and fairway -from the sea to Port Chalmers to a depth of 26ft at low water, and a width of 350 ft, at a cost of £3,750! plus £1,250 for maintenance. ’ And yet the public have been asked to believe that there has beftn no disconcerting siltation in the Lower Harbor! Such an assertion is hardly in keeping with the .board’s secrecy.