DOCK TRUST MERGER BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 3

DOCK TRUST MERGER BILL

-o. . Jilt E. G. ALLEN CRITICISED. At yesterday's mcctimr. of llio. Otago Harbour Board Mr E. F."Duthie moved tho following resolution:-"That (lie attention of .tho board ho called to the following paragraph which appeared in the EveningStar of October 23, purporting to be. (ho remarks of Mr E. G. Allen. M.l'.:--'During tho progress of the bill through its committoe stages a number of Duncdin gentlemen, including Or Tail of Tort Chalmers, attended at Wellington and did good business. Clause 16 of tho bill had been filtered so that .half of the amount which Iho- corporation was called upon to pay to the Harbour Board would be refunded. After the Jeputntion left Wellington something hotter was accomplished. While tho Ml was In Blades in the Upper House Jic got. h permissive addition- put to clause 16 that- the Harbour ?,oard may refund tho other half to the Port Chalmers Borough Council when (lie dock proved payable.' As such statements indicate a departure from tho understanding arrived tit by tho delotrafes when ir- Wellington, and a broach of tho conditions under which the consent of the Harbour Board's delegate) was obtained to tho refunding of the half of tho contribution guaranteed by tho Port Chalmcre Borough Council, and that, as tho bill has now pawsod with additions not agreed to by the delegates, all conof tho bill bo postponed until it final settlement has been arrived at between the Dock Trust and the contractor." In moving the motion Mr Ditthic said he ■would point out. ('hat if the bill contained the words "when tho dock proves payable," as it appeared in the papers, no serious objection would have been taken, but .no one knew better than Mr Allen that the additions be arranged to have made to the bill were not what he was credited with stating 1 at.'his meeting at Port'Chalmers. He had no hesitation in Baying that Ibo amendment as claimed by Mr Allen was a deliberate breach of the agreement made at Wellington between tho representatives of 'the Dock Trust, the Port Chalmers Boroueb Council, and of the board. He had no desire to take up time going into the. whole of tho facts. The bill was prepared and approved of by the Dock Trust und tho board, and given to Mr Allen to sea through tho House, and he understood 'Mr Allen advised one body that no objection would l>o taken to the bill, and that, it would not bo necessary tc send representatives of the board, but the board had thought otherwise, and three- representatives, of which lie (Mr Duthie) was one, were sent. On their arrival at Wellington they learned that Mr Allen had docidexl to make several alterations to the bill, and they bad endeavoured- to-explain the. position and \o come to a- compromise, but wero unable to do so, and after some discussion it was considered advisable that a meeting should Ixi called to that end. A conference was''held, at which the solicitor of llio Dock Trust and the solicitor of, the board, Mr Cable (representing Ihe Dock Trust), and Mr Tait (representing tho Port Chalmers Borough Council), and representatives of the board were present, ■ and matters were carefully and fully considered. The board's delegates, 'recognising the posi-tion-of the Dock Trust, tho interest of tho port, and the opinion of members, accepted (he responsibility of reducing the contribution of-the Borough Council by,one-half. Thi-3 'was -unanimously agreed to. by tho whole of the parties 'present, but was subject to two-conditions. The first was that no further amendments should be made in the bill in any shape or form to affect tho ■principlo of the bill, and the second was that, Mr E.' G. Allen should not only withdraw all -bis objections', but that he would give the bill-bis ontiro support right through tho House. . ~. Mr Watson: Would it not. be better that this matter'should bo postponed, so that Mr Allen might be here? The Chairman: Mr Allen has had notice. Mr Watson: I don't suppose he lias got it. I think it would be fairer to bim if the matter wad adjourned to next- meeting. Mr- Duthie: I am just about finished. Mr Watson: Well, it is hardly fair to eay these things in his absence. Mr Duthie, continuing, said be believed those conditions weie submitted to Mr Allen, and, ho understood, were agreed to, yet -after they left Wellington Mr Allen bad arranged ihat when the bill was in committee in the Upper House tho clause should bo amended as it now appeared in the bill. Ho (Mr Duthie) could only characterise such an action- as a deliberate breach of faith and confidence. He wanted to make it clear that'those conditions were the very reason why they had consented to a. reduction of one-half the 6um to bo paidby tho Port Chalmers Borough Council. Had they known there were going to \k any alterations they would not have consented to that. It might lie possible that; it would be claimed that that clause was only a permissive one, but in his opinion no public body where the representation or constitution was liable to be changed should have such powers. Considering the serious delay in completing the dock by the contractor the board should postpone all consideration of tho Merger Bill until a final settlement had been arranged between the Dock Trust and the contractor, He would move the resolution. Mr Rattray seconded the motion, and said it was a pity, since Mr Allen's action was under discussion, that he was notpresent. It was perhaps impossible for him to be present, and he (Mr Rattray) would content himself with simply seconding the motion iu the hope that the board would carry it. It bore out his view, and tho board could not do any hanr. now in postponing tho matter until the question was settled. The Chairman said Mr Duthie was quite willing that discussion of bis motion should stand over till next meeting, which ho (the chairman) thought was very fair. He had spoken, at flie Dock 'Trust meeting on the matter, and the same objection had l)Con raised as bad now been raised by Mr Watson—that, in the absence of Mr Allen, who might be so busily engaged in liia election campaign that he could not attend,—it- was, in a manner, unfair, as he bad no chance of reply. He thought itwould bo well for some member of the board to move the adjournment of {he discussion till next meeting. Mr Gow said ho would lie quite pleased to move that the discussion of the motion be adjourned until Mr Allen was present. At the same time he thought he was justified in aving that every word Mr Duthie had- uttered with regard to the arrangement made in Wellington was absolutely true, and they could look upon nothing that was done except as a gross breach of confidence. However, he failed to see the connection between the censure of Mr Allen and the proposal to put off any further dealing with the question of amalgamation between the two bodies. He did not think the two subjects should be together at all, and did not see why they should bo joined in the same motion. He moved that the discussion be adjourned till next meeting. Mr Watson seconded the motion, and thought the whole thing was much ado about nothing. Mr Belcher proceeded to speak, but the Chairman suggested that the mate should not be further di-cussed in view of the nature of the motion.

Mr Lelcher asked what was the business before the meeting, and tho Chairman replied Mr DuthioY motion. Mr Belcher said in that case lie was going to_ exercise his privilege to speak to the motion. 'Hie Chairman: It is out of courtesy to Mr Allen. I suggest that, no other speeches should be made in the matter. Mr Gow: The. business liefore the meeting is that discussion of this matter be adjourned. Mr Belcher; Then it. cannot be discusod any further. That is all about it. The motion for adjourning (lie discussion on Mr Duthie's motion was then carried.