WHANGAREI HARBOUR BOARD

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1929, Page 10

WHANGAREI HARBOUR BOARD

Al'l’ol XT.MENT OP CHAIRMAN. MR FIX LAY SOX RE-ELECTED. BECTIOiXAL COMMITTEES CHOSEN The Whangarei Harbour Board held its meeting today, ten days later than usual, on account of dislocation caused by the local body elections. There was an attendance of Messrs .1. A. Finlay6on, J. E. Holmes, L. A. Johnson, P. R. Gardner, Jas. D. McKenzie, E. L. Wliimp and D. E. Young. Mr Einlayson vacated the chair, and the clerk called for nominations for the chairmanship. Mr J. E, Holmes, in proposing that Mr Einlayson be re-elected, characterised as most satisfactory the .way the retiring chairman had carried out his duties. As far as working together went, the old board had experienced a very satisfactory year, and this coordination was not desirable.

Mr McKenzie seconded the motion, and Mr Holmes’ eulogistic references were endorsed by Mr Johnson, As an amendment, Mr Young proposed that Mr E’. Whimp be appointed. He admitted that the retiring chairman had carried out his duties tactfully and very fairly. However, he found himself unable to agree with him on such a vital matter of policy as maintaining the wharf at Onerahi until deep water was provided at Kioreroa. To His raiind, this move would be very dangerous to the welfare of the harbour.

;Mr Whiinp declined to accept nomination, The .retiring chairman, he said, had the 'affaire of the hoard at his finger-tips, whereas he (Mr Whiinp) was making his .first appear an eg at the .board table.

Mr Holmes’ motion having been earned, Mr Finlayson thanked the members for the honour they had again conferred upon him. It carried a great deal of hard work and responsibility, As a chairman it was his duty to carry out the wishes of the board, which perhaps would support Mr Young’s proposal, but he had given tho question every consideration, and had the public behind him, as was shown by the vote given him at the recent election, MEMBERS WELCOMED. Mr Finlayson extended a welcome to both old and new members. He hoped he would get the same support as heretofore, and he was sure that he would receive the same courtesy from the law board as he had from , the old. .

Thanking the chairman for his remarks, Mr Gardner gave an assurance that -he,would do his very best for the harbour and distinct. iHe hoped all would work in harmony.

Mr Whimp also expressed his thanks, aud said the position he occupied, was not of his own seeking, but many had congratulated him, several stating that he would occupy an independent position on the board, and he hoped all other members were in the same position of being able to exercise an independent attitude. He regretted the circumstance which had made necessary his appointment, and hoped that he would do nothing to disgrace the chair so long and ably occupied by his predecessor, Mr John D. McKenzie, whose name was writ large in the progress of the district.

MR, HOLMES DEPUTY CHAIRMAN,

Since the death of the late Mr John D. McKenzie, there had been no i 1 deputy e'haifman to the board. On the motion of Mr Young, seconded by Mr Johnson, Mr Holmes was appointed to the position, CHAIRMAN >S ALLOWANCE. The chairman’s annual allowance was again fixed at £IOO. In speaking to the proposition, Mr Holmes said the chairman had to travel to Wellington and elsewhere more than any other representative of a. local body, COMMITTEES. The whole board will again comprise the Finance and Works Committees. The Purchasing Committee was set up as follows: 'Chairman, Deputy, and Messrs Whimp and Gardner, Tlie chairman and Messrs Johnson and Holmes were appointed a Legal Commitee.