THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 8

THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Sir, —It looks as if that old aphorism, ''tho King can do no wrong','' is about to be introduced into our local bodies. Sumj time ago ii special mooting of t liis llurtiour Board was convened by chcular. the notice of that meeting was as kulows:--"I am inutrucied by the chairman and Mr " Loudon to call a special mooting of Iho board, io be held on Thursday, 11th inst. (Nov.), at 2 ii.in., in the board room, Water street, io consider matters connected with the harbour foreshore, and business matters with tli« chairman and Mc-sik Loudon and Wilkinson, to Wellington." 'lua't is signed by tho secretary, the meeting was nold in duo courss. Noticing that the prets reprcoe-suiitivos wore absent, tho writer asiied it they had been notified, and on a. motion being moved to go into committee (good old committee!) the writer moved an amendment that tlu business bo taken in open board ami that the press be notified that the incjiing was goii.g on. Needles to c a.y, tlia amendment was negatived, and the meeting proccedc<l' with closed doors. Before Ihe business closed the. chairman proposed that corltini parous be congratulated because they couk! put it prolix before and writ/ onaiu letters after tlwir names. This matter was not on the order paper, nor h;ul any noticcbeen given to introduce the "subject. Figuratively sp-.aking, the motion was dragged in by iho hair of the head, and eviM'yotm excQpl tlic writer tumbled over one another to put the motion through, as, of course, was ttaiw Believing this proceduro to bo out. o( order ami illegal, the writer gave notice of motion in proper form to undo and rectify an improper action. But. the spirit ol" jingo Was too strong ami tho member-supported an illegal aotioti, tha Im. o( which has not yot been heard. I'h.i humorous part of the business is that Mr Loudon, an ex-Mayor, seconded and spoke Io my motion, and had to admit that tho '■ Labour fellow"' was right in llis contentions. Bui Mr Loudon subsequently shuffled out by .saying he only seconded t.ho resolution pro forma, which is incorrect.

Sinco Iving connected with tlio board, the writer has had occasion to ivsk a few pertinent questions ami wove a resolution or two which did not altogether suit oilier people. Every obstacle that could bo devisa! was used to block the " Labour fellow" from expressing his opinions, My motions iiuvu been ruled out of order notwithstanding the fact that the opinion of the Hon. Mr Guinness, the Speaker of the House, was entirely in my favour. The writer has always been, and still is, under the impression that no business of anv kind other than (hat the meeting was called for, cm ba transacted at u special meeting. That is world-wide practice and custom. But sonic people are a law unto thera«lvc3 and do that which is denied to others. It is hard to understand -why so much haste was exhibited in pushing through (lie illegal resolution thi writer is complaining about. Notice of matron could have hecu given in the ordinary way to bring the subject of congratulations before the monthly meeting, whero the proposal would liavo taken its chance with other motions. .One thing is pretty certain, however, that after--the next election there is every chance of two or three more '" Labour fellows" finding their way into scats on tho Harbour Board, and if the writer is still on deck things will be made as merry as tho proverbial maniasc boll.—l am, etCii \V. Belcher.