OPEN MEETINGS TO BE HELD

Southland Times, Issue 24603, 27 November 1941, Page 4

OPEN MEETINGS TO BE HELD

INVERCARGILL FIRE BOARD

“That all meetings of the board be held in open meeting from January” was the text of a motion put forward by Mr D. Harris at yesterday’s meeting of the Invercargill Fire Board. Mr Harris, in moving the motion, said he was of the opinion that there was too much “white anting” among members while the board was in committee, and if the meetings were held in open board there would be no reason for this. The chairman (Mr W. G. Tait) said that he did not favour Mr Harris’s motion. There were certain matters that could not be dealt with in open meeting.

Mr R. T. Parsons said there was certain business that should be taken in committee. He outlined the various duties of a meeting working in committee. “The policy of the board is to conduct as much a', possible of its business in open meeting,” said Mr Tait. Mr Harris said that the general policy of the board should be that all business should be transacted in open meeting.

After some discussion the following motion was passed:—“That the general policy of this board be that all business of the board be transacted in open board, and in the event of any business done in committee, such business, with the approval of the board, be handed to the Press.”

At the next meeting of the board there will be no committee meeting before the open meeting, as is usually the procedure