NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 21, 15 March 1918, Page 4

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD.

A “BREEZE.”

At last Saturday’s meeting of the Marlborough Committee of the National Efficiency Board, the adjourned motion in the name of Mr Hcaly—that the minute regardng the appointment of Mr W. 11. Smith, of Havelock, bo rosended —was the subject of a contentious discussion.

Tho resolution in question was: “That Mr W. H. Smith, Havelock Town Board, be apponted local adviser.”

The chairman explained that tho motion was .held over from tho previous meeting in order that the committee might have before it the Canterbury Commssioner’s reply to a letter addressed to him by Mr Hcaly. The chairman produced a lengthy reply from the Commissioner, who had forwarded it to the chairman together with Mr Hcaly’s communication. He read both communications. (Mr Frostick advised the retention of Mr Smith’s servccs in tho position to which ho had been apponted and counselled concord.) Tho chairman said that, in view of the contents of Mr Frostick’s letter, ho would give Mr Healy and Mr Storey (the seconder) tho opportunity of withdrawing their motion. Otherwise ho would have to declare the motion out of order.

Mr Ghaytor said his impression was that they appointed Mr Smith a member of this committee. They had no right to appoint anyone to another committee. He suggested the following motion as a means of overcoming the difficulty: That this committee has no power to appoint members of any subcommittee, and that an apology be sent to tho Pelorus Committee and to Mr Smith for the misunderstanding caused by tho minute in question. The chairman said he could not accept the motion. Mr Healy said he would withdraw his motion if he could properly do so, but ho did not think he would be justified in leaving tho matter as it stood. The minute was misworded and meant the overriding of tho Pelorus Committee. Ho held that Mr Frostick’s letter supported the view that tho appointment could only be to the General Committee.

Mr Storey supported Mr Healy’s contentions. The chairman said the whole trouble was that Mr Hcaly and Mr Storey got the. idea that for some personal reason he (Mr Corry) appointed Mr Smith over their heads. The Central Committee appointed Mr Smith on the recommendation of Mr Burbury. Mr Healy said that he had already accepted that explanation. The chairman said he was not going to put a slight on Mr Smith, or act contrary to the Commissioner’s view of the position. He took tnc minute as meaning that Mr Smith was appointed to the Pelorus Committee —purely as the representative of the township of Havelock; but he would not object to Mr Smith's sitting on the Central Committee.

The chairman said that the marginal note did not affect tho substance of the minute. He would strike the marginal note out. But he would not accept Mr Chaytor’s motion. . Mr Storey moved that the committee had lost confidence in the chairman and ask him to resign. Mr Boyce seconded the motion.

Tho chairman said he would not take tho slightest notice of that motion. He was chairman of the committee for the period of the war and six months thereafter, and he was going to stick to his post.

Messrs Storey, Boyce, and Healy rose in protest and left the room, the discussion then terminating.—Express.