HARBOUR BOARD MEMBER’S RESIGNATION

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 11

HARBOUR BOARD MEMBER’S RESIGNATION

QUESTION OF WORDING " We are only splitting straws,” said Mr W. Begg at last night’s meeting of the Otago Harbour Board, when the question was raised as to the wording of the minute relating to Mr J. H. Duncan’s resignation. It stated that Mr Duncan had forwarded his resignation consequent on the acceptance of his firm’s tender for receiving and delivery, and Mr D. F. H. Sharpe said that the wording of the minute was hardly as it should he, and that it should be altered to read that the resignation was consequent on his firm tendering for the receiving and delivery contract. Mr Begg wanted to know if Mr Duncan would have resigned if his firm’s contract had not been accepted. “We are worse than Philadelphia lawyers,” ho added. The Chairman (Mr J. Loudon) said that the solicitor had advised that it was not right for Mr Duncan to take part in the business of accepting the tender. “ And he had to resign before we accepted the tender,” added Mr Sharpe. The alteration suggested by Mr Sharpe was agreed to, and the resignation was accepted, a further motion being carried that the board place on record its appreciation of the valuable services of Mr Duncan during his term of office, and that the board’s best wishes be conveyed to Mr Duncan.