AN ABSENT CHAIRMAN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 278, 4 November 1924, Page 4

AN ABSENT CHAIRMAN.

MR. SIMSON AND THE RIVERS BOARD. SOME PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS. Speaking at this morning’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, the chairman, Mr. H. lan Simson, in thanking the members who had shown him consideration by granting him leave of absence, said that he noticed that one member had said that if he could not attend the meetings he should resign and make room for some one else. Another had said a lot about hi 8 going to races all over the country instead of attending to the board’s business. He had found that the races had been like a medicine to him. He was present to-day really against his doctor’s orders, but he felt as he was better he would attend. If he could not he would have tendered his resignation. Mr. Jarvis : I am very pleased to. see you back again, but I think that before you took ill you rather neglected your duties to the board. If you have found going to the races a medicine you could have found the board meetings quite a medicine, too. When a man is ill 1 am the first to show him every concon siderat ion. I just wish to niake this explanation which is ’entirely without any personal feeling, but 1 make no apology concerning what 1 have said at previous meetings concerning your absence. I still jnaintain that if you are not able to attend to your duties as chairman of the board you should resign. Mr. Donovan: I was the one who stated that if you w r ere able to go to race meetings you were quite able to attend the board’s meetings, but J can assure you that there w’as no personal feeling about it. Mr. Simson: 1 thank you for your explanations and I think that now we shall be a happy family. He wished to welcome Mr. Clark on his return from Canada. He took the opportunity of thanking Mr. Smart, who had acted in hi B place, and. had worked very hard indeed. He was sure they would agree that when he appointed Mr. Smart deputy-chairman he did a wise thing. Mr. Latham said Mr. Smart had been a good lieutenant. Mr. Smart; Your soft soap is cheap.