WARNING GIVEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25180, 18 April 1945, Page 8

WARNING GIVEN

LOCAL BODY INQUIBY RIGHTS OF OFFICERB "Members felt that this was tantamount to victimisation," said Mr R. McKeen, chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Iqcal government, at the end of an investigation yesterday into the dismissal of a local body officer by the Raupo Drainage Board. Addressing the chairman of the board, Mr P. McGregor Stewart, who was asked to appear before the committee, and the officer concerned, Mr E. G. Aickin, Mr McKeen said it was needless to emphasise the very serious view taken of the matter. "The committee has felt it its bounden duty to take up this position," Mr McKeen added. "We want to make it clearly understood that right from the commencement of these sittings we have had local body officers giving evidence or their opinions under crossexamination and nobody has taken exception to their remarks or evidence. In all cases it has been extremely valuable. Committee's Stand

"If it is going to jeopardise their positions, however, then it is going to be very serious. We want local bodies to understand that this committee will not stand for any officer being victimised because he has come before us to give evidence." Before the matter was opened Mr McKeen explained that the committee had asked the drainage board chairman to attend in view of the information contained in a letter from him to the committee. It was indicated that Mr Aickin had given evidence on behalf of the board without authority, and that as a consequence it had been decided to change the arrangement by which the Otamatea County Council through its clerk. Mr Aickin, and its engineer, had undertaken the work of the board. It was also indicated that an engineer-secretary would be appointed. Board Chairman's Denial Mr Stewart said the termination of Mr Aickin's services had nothing whatever to do with his giving evidence before the committee. It was mentioned in the letter merely as information. Mr Aickin and the county engineer had acted for the board in the same capacities as they did for the county. Recently the bounty had asked for an increased payment of £IOO for their services and the board had refused to pay that amount and decided instead ;to try to find an engineer-secretary for itself. 'They were previously prepared to make the best of the arrangement while the war lasted. .There was nothing in the nature of victimisation either intended or actuajly done, "I think the board and ratepayers would object to part of Mr Aicldn's 'evidence," Mr Stewart added. The chairman's remarks afterward that the hoard, was "a waste of public money" had been reported in the press. Mr Aickin had said the board's affairs could be quite well administered by a committee of the county council, but he thought that would be unfair The board was-an honorary one, administering an area of 22,000 acres at Ruawai. Statement by Secretary In answer to questions, Mr Stewart said the board recently had confirmed the existing arrangement with the county council as a temporary measure. The board had a special meeting to discuss the question and both Mr Aickin and the engineer were invited. There were no minutes because the secretary, Mr Aickin, did not attend. Mr Aickin said that as. secretary of the board he wrote to himself as secretary of the council to notify he had be"?n dismissed. He did not think members of the board would play on him a trick like victimising him. He felt he "had gone down with the ship." The evidence he gave might have hastened the end of his job. To get sufficient money to pay the engineersecretary proposed he had sunk the ship. The county was getting "sick and tired" of the'arrangement. He pointed out that in the 18 years he had acted as secretary his salary from the board of £125 had been more than covered by the saving he had effected in bank interest' on overdrafts. The figures of operation showed a cash improvement of £8555, although works had increased. NATIONAL PARTY . HAURAK! ELECTORATE The annual meeting of the Hauraki branch of the New Zealand National Party was held in the Ngatea Hall, when there was an attendance of over 100 members. An address on current politics was given by Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. The chairman of the South Auckland division of the National Party, Mr H. E. Walters, spoke on the organisation and its future activities. The following officers were elected:—Chairman, Mr C. \V. Parfitt; secretary, Mr A. G. Davis; representatives on the South Auckland division committee. Mrs S. Campbell, Messrs W. Jefferies, A. Chipman, R. L. Milne, E. V. Pole, D. Aldridge and A. G. Davis; deleKates to the Dominion conference, Mesdames Campbell and A. G. Davis, Messrs Milne, Jefferies, C. W. Parfitt, C. B. Easther; representative on the National Club, Hamilton, Mr I. W. Semmens. COMMISSION GAINED Cabled advice has been received by Mr and Mrs A. E. Lawrv, of Remuera Road, that their son, Ralston Lawry, has received a commission after a nine months' training course in England, most of which was spent in the artillery training school at Catterick, Yorkshire". Educated at the Auckland Grammar School, Second-Lieutenant Lawry, who is 25 years of age, played senior Rugby football for the Grafton Club and left New Zealand with a reinforcement draft in September, 1941. He was wounded in Africa and later rejoined his unit, with which he stayed until it reached Cassino. He was then sent to England and has been at Catterick since last October. Advice that their younger son. FlightSergeant Douglas G. Garner, has received a commission in the Fleet Air Arm in England has been received by Sir ami Mrs G. A. Garner, of 38 Princes Street, Onehunga. Sub-Lieutenant Garner, who is 20 years of age, was educated at the Onehunga School and Auckland Grammar School. He took a keen interest in yachting. He was employed on the clerical staff of the Auckland Hospital Board and left. New Zealand in October, 1943, gaining his wings in Canada. i