NEW CHAIRMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 10

NEW CHAIRMAN

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD MR W. BEGG ELECTED Mr W. Begg was last night elected chairman of the Otago Harbour Board for a term of one year. The only other candidate was Mr T. Scollay, the voting being eight to three in Mr Begg's favour. Mr Begg was nominated by Mr F. Tyson and Mr J. H. Duncan, and Mr Scollay's nominators were Messrs A. Campbell and D. Copland. Before Mr Begg took the chair warm tributes were paid to the serr vice rendered to the board by the retiring chairman (Mr J. B. Waters). Mr F. Tyson said that since he had been connected with the board its business had not been conducted with greater dignity or greater ability than by Mr Waters. He

thought the custom the board seemed to have adopted of making the office a rolling one was very foolish, -as a good chairman should be retained in charge for at least four or six years. Commendation of •Mr Waters's services was also expressed by all the other members of the board, who testified to his impartiality, his efficiency and his readiness to acquaint members with all the facts concerning any matter with which the board was dealing. It was indicated that a suitable presentation would be made to Mr Waters at a later stage. Mr Begg, on assuming the chair, said he had been connected with local bodies in Dunedin since 1909, and he had never sat under a more able chairman than Mr Waters. Mr Waters briefly replied, thanking the members of the board and the staff for their co-operation and assistance during his two years of office.

Mr Scollay, in thanking those members who had voted for him, stated that only once in the past 62 years had there been a chairman of the board from the Lower Harbour, and he was inclined to think that the method of election had something to do with it. Some members of the board had to convince large numbers of electors that they were suitable for membership, while two members were returned by only 30 electors. It almost seemed to him that the Government should be asked to place the election of Harbour Board members on a more democratic basis. "I wish, however, to thank those members who voted for me and to sympathise with those who did not, for they missed a great opportunity! " he added.