MR SMALL AND THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16543, 17 November 1915, Page 3

MR SMALL AND THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

HIS POSITION DISCUSSED SEAT DECLARED VACANT. When tho Chairman asked if any member had nny extraordinary business to bring forward .it the Dunodin Drainage Board meeting last night, Mr Kellett asked what time a member could be absent from meetings without vacating his scat. At tho request of the Chairman, tho secretary read from tho Act governing tho board the clause dealing with this matter. This sot forth that if a member was absent from four consecutive ordinary meetings his scat might bo declared vacant by the board. Mr Kollctt asked how many meetings Mr Small had been absent from.

The Secretary stated that Mr Small had been absent from four ordinary meetings. Mr Kellett: Does his scat then become vacant?

The Chairman: It requires a resolution of tho board to declare his pcsi''m vacant. Mr Kellett: I shall move that resolution. Tin's is ancient history, and I will move that Mr Small's seat be declared vacant. Mr Small held a very important position on this board, and I honestly believe he was a very capable man in the position ho held as chairman of tho Finance Committee. He has held that position, and he has neglected to do his duty. I take that to be a very serious state of affairs for a local body of tho magnitude of the board. We, have learned from the press through correspondence from Mr Small that he is concerned about the ratepayers. Ho is not consistent, becauso his action does not bear that out, and I think it only right that his position should be declared vacant. You cannot do anything else, but aek him for his resignation.

Mr M'Farlane seconded the motion. Hβ said it seemed almost a pity that such a thing necessary near the termination of the board's work. However, he considered that tho board had no alternative than to pass tho resolution. In the meantime he understood that the chairman was acting as chairman of the Financo .Committee. Things could not go on as at present. They had now been without a chairman for the last eight weeks, and it was time something was done. Mr M'Kinnon supported tho motion. Hβ said it was a eerious stato of affairs that a member of the board holding the office of chairman of the Financo Committee should have neglected his duty to the ratepayers in the way Mr Small had done by absentmg himself from the meetings. That- there were duties accruing to the position of chairman of tho Finance Committee "was evident, as it was aleo evident that these duties required more attention now than perhaps ever they did before. This was also made evident by the remarks and attitude of the Mayor of the city,, who thought that he was appointed Mayor of the city and the Drainage Board.

Mr Farquharson said ho know that Mr Small had been absent from ordinary meetings, but he asked if he had also been absent from committee meetings? The Chairman: Yes. Mr Farquharson said if this was so he nad nothing further to say. The Chairman said that, as chairman of the board and an old member and associate of Mr Small, along with Mr M'Farlane, ne was sorry that it was necessary to bring such a resolution forward. He had not the slightest doubt that Mr Small had proved himself a capablo and an aible officer with regard to municipal affairs- but they had a -duty to perform to the ratepayers. It became very hard on members of the board when they knew thev were bearing heavy responsibilities which they depended upon other members to look into. Mr Small no doubt knew his reasons. He (the chairman) had never questioned him about the matter, and had merely asked him if he was coming to tho board meetings. It was very painful that such a resolution had been brought beforo tho meeting. Mr Small had nof attended the meeting's, nor sent an apology for non-attendance, and he probably inferred that his work in connection with the board had ended. He was sorrv that Mr Small'e seat on the. board should have become vacant in the manner it had.

Mr Belcher said that for certain reasons Mr Small had absented himself from the board and neglected his duties as chairman of the Finance Committoe.. and it appeared that, ho could attend tho meeting's of other bodies of which he was a member. If he was tired of tho board why didn't he come along and say, "Here is my resignation 1" That was what.should have been done. To all intents and purposes ho was a deserter, and ho had been thrown out through the operation of tho Act, which specified that non-attendance from a certain number of meetings debarred a man from taking hia seat at tho table. He would rather have seen the gentleman whose action was under discussion come along with his resignation and say "I can no longer stay with you." The-i- did not like to see htm ignominipusly "sacked," it seemed to him, as it were, as a deserter. However, as this was the law, it would have to be observed, and Mr Small would cease to be a member of the board, and eome other person would bo appointed to fill the vacancy. Ho , recognised Mr Small's capabilities as chairman of tho finance Committee, and no one regretted more than he did his absence from the board. Ho had spent an enormous amount of time on the finances of the board, and his retirement was certainly a decided loss to it, eo far as the finances were concerned , . Still, Mr Small knew that he did something derogatory-' to the board, and he feared to come along and face the little bit of music. Ho would not have said an unkind word l to Mr Small had he been present, and he did not like the idea of a man keeping away from a position he had ocoupied so long and so afolv without giving an explanation as to tho reason why he was leaving the board. He would have been admired had he done so, and his resignation would have been accepted with regret. He supported tho resolution that the seat be declared vacant. The motion was carried without dissent.

It is said that a brick house is more durable than one of etone. A well-constructed brick house, ma-clo with ijood mortar, will outlast one built of granite.