RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN

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

RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN

CONDUCT OF BOARD’S MEETINGS VIEWS OF MR W. R. WILLIAMS In a letter to the chairman of the Oamaru Harbour Board, Mr W. R. Williams stated that, although at the last meeting of the board he announced his intention of resigning his seat because of the deplorable manner in which the business of the board was being conducted at its meetings, he had reconsidered his decision at the practically unanimous request of members, and in view of representations made by business interests in the town, and he withdrew his resignation. In his comments, Mr Williams stated that as a board they had accomplished but little since assuming office, and if the personal disputes that had made this port authority a subject for ridicule everywhere on the New Zealand coast and in local body circles, were to continue, then in the interests of the district to which they offered their services they should all tender their resignations.

Tile board, stated Mr Williams, was confronted with several urgent problems, notably the deepening of the entrance by dredging, and arranging the necessary finance: the restoration of overseas shipping: and urgent repairs to the wharf. They had inherited from the previous board a legacy of discord and Bitterness, an unfinished job, and virtually an empty bank—a rare reputation—and they had attained a high standard of efficiency in maintaining that reputation. When coastal boats were passing Oamaru, continued Mr Williams, and overseas vessels were beginning to come to the secondary ports, Tt was not the time for members to be attacking the harbour master, and in the process magnify and give Dominion-wide publicity to a minor incident of a boat touching the bottom, or to broadcast to the world that there had been slight silting of the entrance. Such tactics were detrimental to the interests of the port, and the harm that had been done should be remedied without delay. A great deal had been made of the coastal vessel touching bottom, but apart from this being quite a common occurrence elsewhere, the fact did not seem to have impressed itself that the ship concerned might have been off the line of beacons. The harbour master naturally was not on board, the vessel was leaving port in darkness, and Mr Williams submitted that because there had been some shoaling it was not to suggest that the entrance had been materially affected. Mr Williams suggested that the fullest information should be obtained as to the present soundings at the entrance, and that the harbour master should be asked for his comments on whether the same boats which worked the port prior to the touching incident could still do so without Wsk. The beginning of decentralisation was at hand, Mr Williams said, and he felt that if they exerted sufficient pressure much could be accomplished. Timaru, their neighbouring ’ port, afforded an example in this respect. Last year it sent two deputations to Wellington because it had received only one overseas ship in 12 months. Recently, he was assured, there were four overseas vessels In port at the same time, and, because two coastal ships could not be handled, a public meeting was called to arrange for additional labour. Mr F. Hood moved that the letter be received without comment. Mr Barnett expressed appreciation of Mr Williams's action in withdrawing his resignation, but said it was not necessary to go into, the whole matter. The letter was received, and Mr Williams was thanked for withdrawing his resignation.