WESTPORT APPOINTMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13172, 4 September 1913, Page 4

WESTPORT APPOINTMENTS.

# FINDING OF COAIAIITTEE,

A MINORITY PROTEST.

JVIUOH PARTY WRANGLING

. (Prom our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The report of phe special committee [set up to 'inquire- into the Westport Harbor, Board, appointments ,- by - the Minister of Aiarine brought -doAvn its report yesterday afternoon.. As was to be anticipated the recommendations . of the majority of the committee, as em-' bodied m the report ; Avere not endorsed by the Opposition minority, on behalf of Avhich Air Isitt moved an amendment. This struck the inevitable spark of party debate on the question, the result heing •that Avhen the dinner adjournment ar-*' rived the, wordy battle. -was. still, -in.. -fulV sAving. In , order to. enable a discussion of the report; the Prime Alinister moved the continuance of the debate m the evening, to which the House .agreed.

THE MINORITY OPINION. Mr Isitt- stated that a report \vas put forward at the committeej and supported by four Opposition members, ; though opposed by 'the six Government members, declaring that the member for Nelson Was justified i in< his statement that the convictions Avere on record against .Air Simpson, . that the Minister 'of Marine Avas not awaae of these convictions Avhen making the appointment, that Air Atmore was warranted m his criticism, and that m vieAV of the state•inent of the Alinister .-,that v .if he had .known- of the- record he Avould not have appointed' Mr Simpson, that the Government should reconsider the -appointment, and that m all appointments the Minister should satisfy himself as to the" character and reputation of the appointee. Air Isitt AA-ent on to say that although the committee meeting was -a bitter.- party wrangle ..from start to finish, the chairman (Mr Lee) had presided with absolute impartiality. "We were ' all there to play the game, tand we played it. We and quarrelled and wrangled right., through,'' declared Mr. Isitt, amid lauglfter. He added that it was his first experience Of special committee work, and it AA*as a sorry experience. The appointment of the committee was, he contended, a sheer waste of time. He had .personally never 'heard such a lot of maAvkish, flabby, neurotic sentimentalism as had been talked about the. appointment. Did the Prime Alinister belieA'e that this man Avas the victim of a conspiracy between the policeman and two justices of the peace? If they did not believeilt they.;must believe that the man committed, perjury before the com-, mittee. . In either case. tlie Government had a grave duty to perform. Did they intend to discharge that duty? He contended that -if ■ this man's position m offioe were- continued the Government would, put .the strongest • possible Aveapon into the hands of the Opposition.

AN ABSURD ILLUSTRATION. "I have never' seen a more absurd illustration of party politics thaii is exemplified m these reports," said Mr Atmore. "So far as Mr Fisher was concerned it was simply a whitewashing committee, and as to myself I had to be blackened if possible," lie added. It had been suggested that he had got hold of the wrong Simpson? There was no doubt that he had got hold of the right Simpson, and equally without doubt that the Government had got hold of, the wrong Simpson for harbor' board purposes. (Oppositionists : Hear, hear.) If the Government did the right thing they must remove Mr Simpson from the Harbor Board. If they- 'did not. do the right thing, then tb^y -must, not be surpuised if the people. of New Zealand judged them -with , severity, . (Liberals;; Jjfear, hear.)/ ... , , . ». .. "Tne whole matter of the offending m the eyes of the member for Christchurch North: seems to:' be that the Government appointed, a', publican," said Mr- Bradney, who pointed oui .that beyond the convictions recorded there was not a word spoken against the character of the ; man. As for the whitewashing imputation, he indignantly, repudiated having had anything to do with a whitewashing process. He did not want to see him whitewashed. He wanted •to see ■ him clean. (Opposition laughter and Government applause.) ...-'.. • WAIRAU'S CHALLEJNGE.

Mr McCallum challenged the Minister of Marine to show any authority for removing members f jr-pra the Board and substituting hjs own p.qniinees, p „; Mr Statham^^ .pointed- to the 'evidence, showing that -the licensing committee had never sat m judgment on Simpson with regard : to the convictions. If the Minister had known of\ them, he admitted, the man should- not have i been appointed, but as the Minister did not know of them there was no reproach possible a|ainst him. Resides, sliould the convictions against the man be always held m judgment over him ? . iV^f Hanan : .Do you say it was a proper: appQin£m_ n t, ? ; rj.. Mr Statham ijl not m the witness boxJ ,l

Mr Hanari :--'Yoii are m a hole, (Opposition laughter:)''

„;Mr. Statham went on to express surprise at the uncharitable attitude adopted throughout by th© member for Christchurch North.

STAGGERED BUT NOT CONVINCED ,The;]jon, Mr Fisher explained thaMt was perfectly true he was ''staggered" by tbe charges made by tbe member for Nelson m "the House, yet net a single letter or protest had reached him about tlie , appointment, nor had a single witness suggested that Simpson was not a proper person for the position. 'As a matter of fact sM.r Simpson was. one of the most popular men on the coast, and he had received letters proving it. The Minister quoted . the- Crown Law Office as authority for his. action regarding the Board appointments and removals. What he took ebecption to was the statement oif Mr AtW\ fi that, the appointment was to the eieynal! disgrace of the administration, the inference being tjiat the appointment was made with a knowledge of the convictions. If was unfair of Mr Atmore not' to let him know what was said of the appointee. If he. bad known of the convictions, he would . not have made the appointment. - He said that unhesitatingly. •; -'■"•■•*.■ Xlr Hanan: You say that now? You should, ialjje him: off. ...... •• 'J^'he Mmi.scftf'; I cannot put him off. No Ministry would 1 wver adopt th© doctrine that a man's police records should be investigated before any appointment was made. If aonan-had .been, convicted m court and -had suffered the penalty nobody had a> rigHti &R jjold it . over liis head throughput his whole life.