A FRESH START

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 4

A FRESH START

HARBOUR BOARD AFFAIRS CENSURE MOTION RESCINDED Two notices of motion to rescind resolutions passed at the last meeting came before the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday. When he was asked by the chairman (Mr A. W. Barnett) which one he wished to proceed with first, Mr A. C. McLeliand said he wished them to be dealt with in the order in which the resolutions were passed, and not as the secretary wanted them. Mr McLeliand then moved that the resolution, moved by Mr W. E. Aubrey, seconded by Mr W. M. Cooper, and adopted at the board meeting on May 1, “ That the board engage a consulting engineer to report on the silting of the entrance, and advise on the best means to overcome it,” be rescinded. Mr McLeliand said that as it was the first meeting under the new chairman, in the interests of harmony, he would not say much. They had had an engineer for 10 or 12 years, and he had ample opportunity to advise the board about silting, but Captain Cox had been with the board for 25 years, and nobody knew the harbour and soundings as well as he did. “ Needless Expense ” Mr J. B. Chapman seconded the motion, which was also supported by Mr R. A. McDowell. Mr McDowell commented that Captain Cox was capable of doing the work, and to engage an engineer would be needless expense. Dr D. S. Bain said that the former chairman (Mr W. E. Aubrey) had received a recommendation from a Treasury officer to get an engineer’s report. They wanted to go further than the siltation, and get a plan for the future. The dredging was at the entrance, and they wanted to go right out to deep water, and go on with a bigger scheme. The harbour master’s ability did not come into the matter, but they heeded an engineer’s report to fet assistance from the Government for a ig scheme. , , . . Mr Aubrey said they had to have a consulting engineer to give a report; otherwise what would they have to go to Wellington with? Was it not necessary to have an engineer if they spent £10,000? Mr W. R. Williams said they needed only the restoration of shipping to get some revenue, and there was no use in going into a large scheme. „ Messrs F. Hood and W. M. Cooper said they would have, to have an engineer s report prior to going to Wellington. On a division the motion was lost on the deliberative vote ofthe chairman, the voting being; For—Messrs McLeliand. Williams. McDowell Chapman, and Glen, against—Messrs Aubrey, Cooper, Hood, MacMillan, Bain, and Barnett. Harbour Master’s Co-operation Mr McLelland’s notice °f that the resolution proposed by Mr W. E. Aubrey, seconded by Mr W. M. Cooper, and adopted at the board meeting on May 1, That Captain Cox be censured for his neglect of duty in x*W»rd to> the Itouchinsf of the Kakapo on March 10, rescinded, then came beforethe board Thp chairman (Mr A. W. Barnett) asi Yr;~ Captain Cox if he would “-operate with the board to make the port as efficient® possible if the board rescinded the resolu U °Captaln Cox replied in th ® tbestating that if it came to relations oe tween employer and employee if the employee had the confidence of the employer he would be quite willing to co-operate, but if he felt he did not have that conndence and was persecuted for every .mistake whether he had made one or not, not be interested. If the motion of censure was rescinded, said Captain Cox, he would co-operate and do his best to get shipping back to the port. Mr Barnett then asked Mr McLeliand to move the motion and Mr Aubrey to second it ' It was an unusual procedure, he said, but he asked ’ members to agree W Mr ol McLelland moved accordingly, and said he would agree on condition that they start afresh. But, he said, petty bickering and intrigue as in the past had to cease. “ Let us start with members respecting instead of hating each other, seconded the motion, saying that it was 'in the cause of harmony. He did not wish to specify any particular member, but if the cap fitted he could wear it. When a member talked about petty bickering and when he put other people right, then he should start with was carried unanimously. Mr Barnett: "The past is gone. Let us start again.”