A DIVIDED BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 3

A DIVIDED BOARD

THREE RESIGNATIONS ACCEPTED PERSONAL ISSUES INTRODUCED Yesterday morning the Oamaru Harbour Board accepted with regret the resignations of three members of the board— Messrs W. R. Williams, R. A. McDowell, and G. E. Glen. , , In his resignation, which was lodged shortly after the last Oamaru Harbour Board' meeting, Mr W. R. Williams stated: “ i tender my resignation as a board member, thereby confirming the verbal intimation given to the board. I feel that the personal issues 'introduced from the inception of the board’s period of office preclude the possibility of the board ever reaching the unity essential to progress. There are factions on the board, and the stage has been reached when even trivial matters become a subject for heated deliberations, often prolonged, at the expense of more important business. I have nothing but friendly sentiments for my former colleagues on the board —that is, individually—but I feel that the factional cleavage on the board is now wider than eyer, and that there is no possibility of the members of the present board getting together in the interests of the port and district.”—The resignation was accepted with regret. The following resignations as members of the board from Messrs R. A. McDowell and G. E. Glen were received at the board’s office at 9.55 a.m. yesterday, and the standing orders were suspended to enable the board to deal with them at the special meeting. Mr R. A. McDowell in his letter of resignation stated that he would like to assure the chairman that his action was in no way related to Mr Cooper’s election as chairman. “ I feel, however, that, for reasons similar to those stated by Mr Williams,” wrote Mr McDowell, ’* I can no longer serve any useful purpose by retaining my seat at the board table. ’ Mr Glen’s Resignation Mr G. E. Glen’s resignation read as follows:—"When at the last meeting of the board I asked Mr Williams to reconsider his application I may state that I then agreed, and am still of his opinion as to a divided board. I have had that opinion for a long time, and I think most members of the board are aware of it. Good work cannot be done under these conditions, consequently the efforts, put forward to improve conditions suffer. I am unhappy about the proposed appointment of a harbour master. My ideas of a higher salaried officer were made known at a previous meeting, and received a good measure of support. Afterwards other opinions prevailed. I think a lowsalaried officer is not in the best interests of .tire port. For these and other reasons I tender my resignation as a member of your board.”

These resignations were also accepted with regret, and the secretary (Mr T. J. Guthrie) was directed to notify the Oamaru Borough Council of the three vacancies on the board.