IN COMMITTEE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 6

IN COMMITTEE

HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION PROTEST BY MEMBER The suggestion that receiving and delivery charges, which are usually discussed in committee, should be taken in open board so that the public might have the opportunity of ascertaining what individual members' views were on the subject was made by Mr R. S. Thompson.at last night's meeting of the Otago Harbour Board. After a short discussion. Mr Thompson's suggestion was rejected. When the board was about to go into committee after having dealt with all the business scheduled for open board, Mr Thompson said he wished to bring up the matter whether receiving and delivery charges should be .taken in committee.' : It was a question of extreme public interest, involving an increase in costs, and the public, was entitled to know every member's views on the subject. In his opinion, the matter should be dealt with in open board.

" There are pretty sound reasons why this discussion should be taken in committee," said the chairman (Mr J. B. Waters). "There is certain information which it is not advisable to have published just now, and I would be obliged if Mr Thompson would accept my assurance on th&t point. The question of contract is ■involved, and I think it is advisable that, as we take discussions on contracts in committee, this matter should be treated similarly. I have no objection to a statement being made to the, press." " I maintain ttfat this should be taken in open board," Mr Thompson repeated. "The Standing Committee made certain recommendations in this matter to which I am totally opposed as I believe they would make every member of the board liable, and I decline to take any responsibility. The public should know the facts and now every member of the board feels. It is a matter of payment in cash for services rendered, and it is a matter of. opinion whether it should be paid.' It is the public that would have to pay, so the public is entitled to know the facts."

Mr Thompson moved that the discussion should be taken in open board, and the motion was seconded by Mr J. W. Munro, M.P.

Mr W. Begg expressed the opinion that the board should take the chairman's assurance that there was some valid reason why the subject should be considered in committee.

Mr D. Copland said he had always fallen in with the custom of the board, which was that questions of finance should be considered in committee, not because the board wished to keep anything, from the public, but'because it was considered inadvisable to make public all the deliberations surrounding financial questions. If the board wanted every bit of tittle-tattle from the members to go to the press, then it. could pass Mr Thompson's motion. The motion was lost, and the board went into committee.