TO READ OR NOT TO READ?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20834, 28 September 1929, Page 11

TO READ OR NOT TO READ?

LETTER FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HEATED DISCUSSION B 7 HARBOUR BOARD. ALLEGED HOLE-AND-CORNER , BUSINESS. It did not take the Harbour Board long to commence an animated discussion at its meeting last night. The first clause of the Standing Committee's report recommended that the sum of £5 5a be granted to the Y.M.C.A., and the recommendation was read to the board. Mr Dickson then rose and stated that a- letter had been received from the Chamber of Commerce asking for a conference with the board. This letter had been discussed at the Standing Committee meeting and the committee had been divided on the matter—whether the conference asked for should take place or not. Why was no reference made in the order paper to this business? He wanted the letter discussed in open board. The chairman (Mr Gow) t I understood that business was-to be taken in committee.

* Mr Dickson; All the correspondence dealt with by the Standing - Committee should come before the board. The Standing Committee cannot deal with the matter finally. Mr Larnach: What has this business to do with donations? Can it not be dealt with afterwards?

Hr Dickson moved that the letter be read to the hoard.

Mr Loudon seconded the motion. He said they did not -want any hole-and-corner business.

Mr Begg; Why discuss the letter twice over? It has already come before the Standing Committee. Mr Loudon: Letters addressed to the board should be discussed by the board. Mr Dickson said he must' further protest against this matter being left to the board to decide whether it should he diseased or not It had been sent to the board and it should necessarily come before the board. They should not try to burk the matter. The chairman said he must protest against that statement. Mr Dickson and Mr Loudon both continued to enter their protests, when the chairmari said: "If you’ll sit down I will put the motion.” Mr Loudon and Mr Dickson said that, they would not vote on their own motion.

Mr Larnaeh said he must protest against any suggestion of hole-and-corner business.

The chairman; If you will take your seats 1 will put the motion, Mr Loudonr Is the board going to be governed by the chairman and the secretary or by members! Mr-Driver; The Standing Committee made its recommendation.

Mr Dickson arid Mr Loudon once again told the chairman that they did not intend to vote on the motion.

The chairman then put the motion, and asked for “ ayes.” There was no response. Mr Larnaeh pointed out that so one was voting. Mr Scollay said he also did not intend to vote. All the letters sent to the board should come before the board. The procedure proposed was quite out of order.

Mr Love said he took up the nuns attitude as Mr Scollay. The chairman (shortly): Why don’t •you vote for Mr Dickson’s motion t Mr Love eaid be was not going to vote because ho thought the letter should be read without any motion being moved. It was addressed to the board. Mr Mailer said that the procedure being adopted by the chairman was that adopted by the City Council. The same procedure had been adopted when Mr Dickson had been chairman. His present attitude seemed strange. He personally would have liked to have had the letter read, because he wanted to say something about it, seeing that they had been twitted by some members when the Standing Committee had discussed the letter. It seemed to him that Messrs Dickson and Loudon, adopted one method when they had been chairmen, and now they had adopted another. The chairman’s present procedure had always been adopted by the board. The business taken in committee did not necessarily have to come before the . open board. He would challenge Mr Loudon if he had not adopted the same procedure when he had been chairman. Mr Loudon said he would take up the challenge. He had never refused when he had been chairman to read a letter in open board when it had been asked for.

Mr Dickson said he also had never refused to have a letter read. There was no letter sent to the board that did not come directly or indirectly before the board.

Messrs Begg and Larnach; No: you’re wrong.

The chairman said he would be pleased if they could show him anything in the standing orders which was opposed to his present procedure. As there were no “ayes” the chairman asked for the “ noes.”

Only four members voted against the motion, the other members not voting. The chairman; Well the motion is lost and the letter will not come, before the board except in committee. Mr Loudon; I suppose wo can get a copy of the letter and publish it. Voices: No. .

The chairman: You can get a copv of the letter, but if you publish it you may come under the censure of the board. .

Mr Begg said that if Messrs Dickson and London argued that this particular letter should come before the open board, then other matters dealt with by the Standing Committee should also, it might be argued, come before the board. • Mr Dickson: Yes; we are entitled to discuss them also.

ilr Begg: The Standing Committee spent a considerable time discussing this letter. Why reopen it? Mr Loudon said he intended to get a copy of the letter. 6

The chairman then read the by-law of the hoax'd dealing with a member who divulged business of the board which the hoard said should not be divulged. Mr Dickson said that they could get a copy of the letter from the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Loudon considered there would be no trouble about that. The chairman (drily) : It won’t do any harm if the letter is published. It nas already been discussed in committee The discussion then closed.