WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 10

WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD.

TEE SELECT COMMITTEE.

PROPOSAL WITHDRAW,

(Fnou Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 18. The question ■of the much-discussed appointments to the Westport.' Harbour Board again figured in the House this afternoon.

Mr Scott asked that he be allowed to move that his name be withdrawn from the committee appointed to inquiro into the circumstances of the appointment of Messrs Gillan and Simpson to the board and that the name of Mr It. M'Kenzie be substituted for it.

Mr Russell asked Mr Scott to state his reasons for making such a proposal. Mr Scott said the reason was that Mr M'Kenzio was member for the district, and ho strongly desired to be on the committee.'

Mr Witty said the whole committee should be recast in order that it might consist of members who had not already taken sides on the nuestion. •

Mr Davey asked the Minister if he did not think it a pretty hot proposition to ask that Mr Scott should go off the committee and that Mr M'Kenzie, a personal friend of Mr Simpson, should go on in his place. Mr Atmore; said Mr M'Konzie was a strong personal friend of Mr Simpson. It was proposedV to put a particularly strong friend of Mr 1 Simpson on the committee instead of Mr Scott, who would presumably have been impartial. He thought the Government would be wiser to withdraw the proposal.

The Hon. Mr Massey said the proposal did not come from the Government.

The Hon. Mr Fisher suggested that Mr Scott withdrew his motion. It had been submitted at the instance of the member for Mctueka, who as member for the district was anxious to be a member of the committee. He (Mr Fisher) had thereupon agreed that a member of the. committee from the Government side of the House should withdraw and . make, room Mr. M'Kenzie.

Mr Scolt withdrew his motion and the matter dropped. Mt M'Kenzie was not in the House during the discussion.