MR BELL'S FEE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6543, 9 December 1892, Page 2

MR BELL'S FEE

LIVELY DISCUSSION AT HARBOR

BOARD MEETING.

MR BRIGHT RETIRES.

At the meeting of tho Harbor Board last evening the Secretary read a letter written to Mr Napier Bell enclosing a cheque in payment of his services.

Mr Bright asked by whose authority the cheque had been passed. The Chairman said that at the last meeting, at which there was no quorum, there were four members present, and they thought it advisable to make the payment at once. A member who signed cheques waa also asked his opinion, and he thought it would be besb to sign the 'cheque and send it to Mr Bell rather than keep him waiting for a month.

Mr Bright : Has this account been passed by the Board. The Chairman : No, ib could nob have been passed by the Board because there was no quorum at last meetiug. The account was to be passed that night. It was to come before the Board for confirmation.

Mr Bright : Well, sir, I protest most strongly against thia sort of proceeding. Here is an account against which several members Avished to make their public protest, and we find the ground Avas taken from under our feet by the cheque being coolly remitted in a hole and corner way It Avas a most underhand xray of passing a cheque for .£194 for fees Avhich Avere manifestly in excess of what Avas justly due. I haA'e never heard of a more improper thing in public matters in my life, and I think ib is time this sort of business is stopped. It appears to me that it i 3 no uso occupying a scab on this Hoard if thing 3 are to be done this Aray. [Mr Bright here left his seat and was making for the door, Avheu

Mr Matthewson said : Ib was Mr Bright's oavii fault if he was not here to object. It was a regular meeting of the Board.

Mr Bright : There was no quorum. There was no meeting ; that was clear enough. [Mr Bright here left, saying he had more important business to occupy his time.]

Mr DeLautour said a minority had certainly a right to be heard before the Board took action. Mr Bright Avas clearly right, in his opinion, as a matter of principle.

The matter was alloAved to drop for a while until a letter was read from Mr Napier Bell enclosing his account for fees for the report on the harbor.

Mr Joyce said he Avas one of those who was present at the meeting. The account Avas not passed lty recommendation. It Avas frequently done in other local bodies for a majority to recommend payment of an urgent account. He did not altogether believe in employing Mr Bell, but it was either paying him or go to law, and he liked to go to law as little as possible. Because Mr Bright didn't attend the meeting, was it any reason that Mr Bell should be kept out of his m onej 1 .

Mr Sievwright said that this was a special meeting, and it Avas a foregone conclusion that it should be paid. He did nob altogether approve of the report, but there was no reason why it should not be paid for.

The Chairman explained to Mr Gray that the reception of the report Avas carried by the Totes of all but three. There Avas no quorum at last meeting, and the four talked it over and decided that it Avould be better to pay Mr Bell than to keep him Avaiting for a month. In principle, Mr Bright was quite correct. All moneys for payment should be pas-.ed by the Board. Five members, a majority of the Board, had agreed to the payment of it. He thought Mr Bright might have remained and discussed the matter. The action he had taken by remaining away from last meeting and not staying to this meeting deprived the Board of Mr Bright's opinions carrying any Aveight.

Mr DeLautour said that really Mr Bright appeared to have been justified, as the payment had been carried by the Chairman in,, the face of the Finance Committee. The right of a minority Avas to be a benefit in influencing the decision of the Board, not in talking to the air after a thing had been carried. They had strong ground for objecting to the time Mr Bell worked, and their opinions had a right to be heard. It came to tlu'3, that no one could bo absent from the Board without a dread that something importanb'Avould be done Avithout their being consulted. That was unfortunate.

Mr Gray said there was no doubt the proceeding had been slightly irregular, but he thought members quite justified in taking the steps they had. Mr Joyce said he agreed that ib Avas a little irregular, but not a tittle of evidenco had been brought to show it Avas an unjust action.

Mr Matthewson said that there AA*as really a desire to maintain the honor of the Harbor Board. The payment was passed before it was decided to hold a special meeting before the mouth elapsed.

Air DeLautour : \\ asn't the cheque signed after you had decided to sit to-night. Why, Mr Matthewson, you have been fighting for years for the rights of minorities. I think you forgot this time.

Mr Matthewson admitted that he had for gotten the minority this time.

When the account came up for confirmation, Mr Sicvwright moA-od that the action of the members present at the last meeting, when there was no quorum, bu approved. The motion was carried, Mr DeLautour voting " No. ; '