HARBOR BOARD ENGINEER

Evening Star, Issue 16033, 9 February 1916, Page 8

HARBOR BOARD ENGINEER

MR BLAIR .MASON APPOINTED AS “CONSULTING ’’ ENGINEER.. A special meeting of tho Otago Harbor Board was heid last evening to consider Mr J. Blair Mason’s offer to accept the post of consulting engineer, at a salary of £SOO a year, with right of private- practice. Mr Blair Mason has been the board’s engineer (without right of private practice), at a salary of £I,OOO a year. Mr H. L. Tapley moved that the board go into committee. Mr J. Loudon seconded. Mr F. O. Shaddock said there was no reason to go into committee. Lot them remove for ever the charge that everything was done in a hole-in-the-corner fashion. If the engineer had been injured in any way it was through committee business. In any case there was no use in into committee, because someone divulged the bulk of such business to tho Press. Mr T. Scollay said it was a public matter, and should bo taken in public. -Mr E. C. Hazlett said it was not a question of hole-in-the-corner methods. In open board members could speak only once, and there were matters -in issue upon which he for one would want to ask questions, which would necessitate speaking more than once. Mr J. H. Walker endorsed this view, and the _ resolution to go into committee was carried by a big majority. It was suggested that more freedom of discussion would be attained if the engineer retired; and he did retire.

It was further suggested by the chairman (Mr Dickson, M.P.) that the board, having requested the engineer to retire, might also think it best that the Press representatives should retire.

Diis unusual hint was greeted with silence, until Mr Walker remarked that it was a matter that might be left to the reporters’ discretion. Personally he had complete faith in tho probity oT the Press representatives.

Mr Loudon: In 20 years’ experience I have never known the Press reporters to do anything they should not do. The Press retired.

After a good deal of discussion it was resolved—“ That Mr J. Blair Mason be appointed consulting engineer to the board at a salary of £SOO per annum; six months’ notice on either side to terminate the agreement, and the new engagement to come into force from April 1, 1916.” It was further decided—“ That a committee, consisting of the chairman, the deputy chairman (Mr Hazlett), and Messrs Wilkinson, Scollay, Moller, and Loudon, be appointed to confer with Mr Mason and submit a report to the meeting of the board on February 25 as to the supervision, control, and carrying on of the board’s works under the altered conditions.”