CHAIRMAN CHOSEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3212, 13 January 1943, Page 5

CHAIRMAN CHOSEN

MEMBER FOR HAURAKI - AUCKLAND HARBOUR MR A. S. SUTHERLAND ELECTED Aftef holding office as deputychairman of the board since August, 1940, Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, was unanimously elected chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board at a special meeting yesterday afternoon. He will hold office for the balance of the term expiring next May. The post was rendered vacant by the death on December 26 of Mr Hendry Luker who had been chairman since 1940. There were no other nominations. ' In nominating Mr Sutherland as chairman, Mr H. R. McKenzie said that board members could have the utmost confidence in him. The meeting also elected Mr J. H. Frater, chairman of the Finance Committee, to the post of deputy-chair-man. While not opposing the election of either officer, Mr J. Sayegh protested against the procedure adopted in choosing them. He said that at an informal gathering earlier in the afternoon, at which he was not present, it had been virtually decided to elect Mr Sutherland and Mr Fraser. Addressing Mi’ McKenzie, Mr Sayegh asked whether the decision was a spontaneous one reached at- an earlier meeting. The reply was in the affirmative.

“This board has always been against caucus rule,” he said, “but if there was a caucus rule this is it.” He voiced a strong- protest at the action taken in deeding the result before an election was held.

Mr Sutherland has represented South Auckland districts on the Auckland Harbour Board since 1932 and has been chairman of the Works Committee for four years. He has been farming in the Ngaruawahia district for 25 years and has been closely associated with all dairying matters in that period. A member of the Auckland Land Board for 10 years from 1932, Mr Sutherland forfeited his seat when he was elected to represent Hauraki in the House of Representatives last February. He is a director of the Farmers’ Trading Company, Limited. He is president of the Ngaruawahia Racing Club and a member of the executive of the Waikato Racing Club.

The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £290 a year.