WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 74

WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD.

APPOINTMENT OF MR SIMPSON,

PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY.

WELLINGTON, August 12. Tho Parliamentary Committee eot up to inquire into the appointment of Mr William Ryan Simpson to the Westport Harbour Board was resumed this morning. Mr Myers represented Mr Simpson. Correspondence was read from the Under-Secretary of Justice that between 1907 and 1912 two convictions were recorded against Simpson at Westport, and five at Karamea.

Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., of Nelson, chairman of the Motueka Licensing Committee, said that prior to a meeting of the committee in March, 1912, an adverse report was received concerning tho conduct pf Simpsons premises. The committee did not adjudicate on the report, but called on Simpson to show cause why his license should not be refused.

To Mr Atmore: In transferring the license to Mr Curtin tho committee did not take the convictions against Simpson into consideration, there being no application, ftotn Simpson. He would not have given Simpson, with such a list of convictions, a Jieoonso without investigation, but he would not necessarily refuse such a man a license. To tho Hon. Mr Fisher: The Licensing Committee gave Simpson three months’ notice to show cause why his license should be renewed —not notice to get rid of the license. It never refused Simpson a license, and it never held an inquiry into his conduct.

Jo Mr Isitt; Investigation would have been hold into the police report if Simpson had prosecuted his application for a renewal.

To Mr Statham: The Licensing Committee did not decide anything about Simpson’s character. The committee had not decided that Simpson was unfit to hold a license.

To the Chairman: With the knowledge of the previous convictions, the committee granted Simpson a license in 1910. The police objected to the renew'al. To Mr Myers : The bench did not refuse a license to Simpson. To Mr Atmore: In 1910 the Licensing Bench granted Simpson a license, notwithstanding the convictions, but the police convictions still stood,

Mr Allport, Secretary of Marine, said the department did not make any inquiries as to the character of persons nominated for appointment to harbour boards. The Minister recommended the proposed appointees to the department, which prepared a recommendation for the Governor, win appointed the poisons recommended by the Minister.

To Mr Colvin: The whole thing was in the hands of the Minister.

W. R. Simpson, examined by Mr Atmore, said he did not wish to carry on the license after the convictions were recorded. If they had not been recorded he would have carried on the license. The transfer was effected because of the convictions. To the Hon. Mr Fisher; One of the convictions was for holding a raffle, which was held by two young fellows. They raffled a horse and gig. He was not concerned therein. The conviction for selling liquor on Sunday was for allowing beer to bo given to a party who were dining at the hotel. He charged Is 6d “for the meal, inclusive of boor. He did not apply for a renewal of the license in 1912 because lie could see there was a conspiracy working against him. A now constable continuously hung round the verandah of his hotel. He (Simpson) was born in the hotel, which was established in 1876, and his people and himself had been in "possession till last year. To Mr Atmore; His trouble at Karamca was that the policeman was prejudiced against him, and would have hunted him out of the country. Ho did not want to give him that chance. He was never instructed by his solicitor that he could have reported Constable Johns to his superior, and have had an inquiry made into his conduct. He considered that in a British country anj - man had a right to come out for a public position after ho had paid the penalty for .any offence. Mr F. F. Munro, chairman of the Westport Harbour Board, in answer to Mr Fisher, said ho knew of some of Simpson’s convictions, but heard no comment as to the propriety of appointing a man with such records.

To Mr Atrnoro: If the Government got a requisition from a chamber of commerce concerning a man lie would think that was sufficient. It was a moot point whether a man with convictions should stand for public positions. To Mr Myore: He knew Simpson was respected and esteemed bv his fellow-resi-dents in his district. John Powell, a member of tho Westport Harbour Board, defended Simpson’s appointment, in spite of tho convictions. Tho committee then adjourned till tomorrow STATEMENT BY MR FISHER. WELLINGTON. August .13. Tire inquiry into the appointment of Mr W. R. Simpson to tho Westport^.Harbour Board by the Minister of Marine was resumed to-day. Tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, examined by Mr Atmore. said the opinion expressed by him in tho House (that if the charges against Simpson were correct he would not regard him as a proper person to remain on the board) had been modified since he had heard - the nature of the charges. He now thought tho appointment a proper one, and would not recommend the Government to introduce special legislation to remove him. Ho had made a general inquiry regarding Mr Simpson while at Karamca. 110 had not thought it necessary to make an inquiry from the police. That never had been done regarding appointees to the harbour boards, and never would bo done. If tho appointment had to be made over again probably Mr Simpson would not be appointed, but he (the Minister) would not take any steps to remove him. He admitted tho validity of tho convictions against Mr Simpson, but denied that ho knew anything about thorn at tho time of the appointment. To Mr Isitt: He thought it the duty of tho Minister to conserve the .high character of public appointments, but did not agree that convictions, irrespective of circumstances, should hold a man down all his life.

To Mr Colvin: Mr Simpson was recommended by the Karamoa Chamber of Commerce, and not because he had been elected

to the Bullor County Council, though that was good enough grounds on which to appoint him. Ho considered Karamea entitled to a representative. To Mr Statham: He had heard no suggestion of charges against Mr Simpson while at Karamea. No protest had been received against his appointment from the West Coast. The appointments made by him were necessary, because the beard was tied up by a deadlock. The steps taken by him were both justifiable and legal, and had never been questioned. To Mr Lee: The appointments were not made to allow Mr Munro to become chairman. The press comments in the district were favourable to the appointments. He did not think Mr Atmcre was justified m assuming that ho know Mr S'mn« on’s character until ho had denied the fact. To Mr Atmore: The Government nominees on the board did not represent tho Ministry, but tho State as a whole. He still thought the Government should not inquire into the character of their nominees.

Mr Atmore, in Irs evidence, said he had made the statements in tho House because of the blatant assertions of tho alleged Reform party that it never made improper appointments. lie held that all men appointed to public positions should have a clean record. The convictions against Mr Simpson established the fact that his was not a clean record. He had first heard ef Mr Simpson’s character from Motueka. lie had not thought it necessary to inform the Minister of his character, because he did not know that the same man had been appointed. As soon as he knew it was tho same man he thought it time to make a protest.

To Mr Bradney; He now accepted the Minister’s statement that lie did not know’ of the convictions when he made the appointment, but he should have known. To Mr Statham: His object in making the charges was to show that the Reform Government had made an improper appointment. To the Chairman; Ho still thought the appointment was to the eternal disgrace of the Government, because it could have known the character of the appointee. Ho did not value the opinion of any person who said a person with seven convictions against him w r as a fit and proper person to sit on a public board. If he had known when he spoke in the House what ho knew now, ho would not have modified his speech. To Mr Myers: Ho relied on the public sense as exhibiting distrust at the appointment of Mr Simpson. The disgust had been expressed to him by several people. He declined to give the names of such persons. Ho was not aware that Mr S'nioson had complained of vindictiveness. Ho had made no inquiries as to the circumstances attending the convictions before bo spoke in the House. The opinion of people in the district did not affect his opmion of Mr Simpson. The convictions stood. The committee then deliberated.