MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 5

MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN

HARBOUR BOARD INCIDENT.

A WARM DISCUSSION.

A somewhat warn: discussion occurred at the Auckland Harbour Board's meeting yesterday, when Mr. E. W. AJisoa moved, according to notice of motion, that a return be prepared setting out certain information to which reference had been made in the report regarding ferry wharfage presented last month. Ha stated that' there had grown up a practice of withholding information from certain members. A special committee had been set up to consider certain matters, and information was supplied to it, -which was not available to other members of the board. He had written to the board's secretary asking lor a copy of the return which had been supplied to members of the committee. For convenience, he had written oil letter-pr-per bearing the Devonport Ferry Company's heading, and he was then told that if he wrote as a member of the board notice of motion must be given. Mr. Alison complained that the chairman had made a close corporation of the board in demanding such notice of motion, and in other similar actions. He termed the chairman's action as "arbitrary and unreasonable, objectionable, improper, and discourteous."

Mr. Gunson said he had never sat at the board and listened to a more scurrilous attack on the chair. He would explain his actions, and he hoped Mr. Alison would be man enough to with- • draw all he had said.

Mr. J. H. Bradney said he thought the word "scurrilous" should be withdrawn, and the chairman accordingly substituted " uncalled-for."

Mr. Gunson then went on to explain what the rights and privileges of members were. Under Section 169 of the Harbour Act, members were allowed to examine the board's books, and taMe extracts from them, although they were not allowed to take them away. If it wa-$ proposed to give members the right, to go to the board's office and ask that certain returns should be prepared, the Act- would state it. but there was no mention of such a privilege. Mr. Alison had exercised his right under that Act. For nearly a whole day, he (Mr. Alison) and the secretary of the Devonport Ferry Company had beenengaged in going through certain of the I Harbour Board's books. The secretary, j in this case, exercised his right as a dej benture holder, and Mr. Alison as a memj ber of the board.

J Mr. Gunson went on to say that the only j other privilege extended to members was ) that conferred by the Standing Orders, i it was there set out that documents bearj ing on a matter under discussion might I be perused by a member, but only so long :as the discussion lasted. He very much | resented the unfair charges made against | him, especially as Mr. Alison had been j fully informed as to what his rights were, i He was accused of maladministration, of j incompetency, and of concealment, but j Mr. Alison had failed to prove what right of his had been set aside. "1 am sorry of his had been set aside. " 1 am sorrv I have to speak so strongly," he said, " but! am very much incensed at this attack upon the chair. 1 trust the board will understand that the charge is totally incorrect and unwarranted." Mr. Bradney said that on hearing Mr. , Alison's statement he had felt inclined to sympathise with him, but the chairman's explanation was entirely satisfactory. Mr. H. D. Heather said he was sorry the reflection had been cast upon the chairman, and felt sure members present sympathised wifh Mr. Girnson very much indeed. It was all the more inexplicable in view of the letters which had been written to Mr. Alison explaining the position.

Mr. J. S. Bond said that his long experience told him that the only proper way to secure the information Mr. Alison desired was for him to move for a return. Mr. A. J. Entrican felt sure Mr. .Alison would do the proper thing, while Mr. P. Virtue said he thought Mr. Alison had forgotten himself. Mr. Alison said he was quite prepared to apologise when he felt he was in the wrong, but he had heard the explanation and was sorry to say that the chairman had in no way justified his actions. "You are chairman of the board," he exclaimed, " not the whole board. You seem to think you ere the board, and you let members have information only when it suits you, but not otherwise. Will you let me have the information now without the motion? Are you agreeable to that?" The Chairman: No; 1 certainly am not.. Mr. Alison: I thought you would not be agreeable; that is why 1 asked the. question. The motion asking for the preparation of the return in question was then carried.