HARBOR BOARD MINUTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2140, 24 July 1907, Page 1

HARBOR BOARD MINUTES.

Tho minutes of last Harbor Board proceedings, read at yesterday’s meeting, contained sonic remarks by Mr Sievwright as to the alleged unreliability of tho outer harbor figures officially accepted by the Board. Mr. Lysnar moved that the words be expunged. They should never have appeared as a record. He pointed out that the figures were accepted by the Board after obtaining evidence from the Collector of Customs uni other reliable authorities.

Tlio Hon. Captain Tucker bold that if the words were uttered they should remain. If true, all the more roason' for their inclusion; if false, they remained as a record against the member uttering them. Mr. Sievwright said ho had specifically asked that liis dissent bo recoided. He had bunded in a written slij) setting forth the grounds for bis protest, namely, that the figures were “unreliable, largely fanciful, and unauthentieated by any responsible persons.” It was usual when a membo* dissented from a committee’s report to state bis grounds for so doing.

The Chairman ruled that tho minuti was in order. Mr. Sievwright hal asked to have it' recorded. This was done in open Board meeting after the Board had sat in committee. Mr. Mattliewson said lie had no objection to a member having liis dissent noted, but the addendum was quite out of order. He strongly objected to it. “Why do wo sit Imre,” lie asked, “unless the majority rule.” Mr. Lysnar said be was agreeable to the minute, provided the rule was made general. He would ask that his own dissent to Mr. Sievwriglit’s remark be recorded. If the door was opened to this sort of tiling there was no knowing where it would end. The Chairman said nothing could be added to the minutes of a former meeting, unless it had been omitted.

It would ho the proper procedure to add what Mr. Lysnar wanted. Mr. Lysnar: If it-was allowable f .'i- Mr. Sievwright to add that tag then it is Captain Tucker heatedly rose to a point of order. “AVe don’t come here to have our time wasted on discussions of this kind,” he exclaimed. “You should obey the Chairman's ruling.” Mr. Sievwright: It is disgraceful to have this kind of thing going on. Mr. Lysnar: Well, put it to the vote Captain Tucker said he would not waste further words. He left the table, and did not return until the matter was dealt with. Mr. Harris wished to pour oil on tli i troubled waters. Could not Mr. Lysnar’s dissent also be recorded, and thus clear tho tiling up. Tile Chairman: I won’t have anything added to the minutes now. Mr. Sievwright remarked that the thing was ridiculous. He was ashamed to have to sit and take part in such discussions. The motion to confirm the minutes was then put. Ayes: The Chairman an 1 Messrs. Sievwright and Whinray. Noes: Messrs. Lysnar, Matthewson, and Hepburn. The lastnamed said he was not present, hut disapproved of the comment mentioned. Mr. Harris declined to vote. Tho Chairman gave his casting vot: with the ayes, and the minutes were confirmed.