DISMISSAL DEMANDED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1930, Page 15

DISMISSAL DEMANDED

HARBOUR BOARD ENGINEER. SENSATION AT GISBORNE. The first meeting of the Gisborne Harbour Board in the new year provided a local sensation, in the nature of a demand on the part of the chairman {Mr. J. Tombleson) that the board dispense with the services of the engineer (Mr. C. F. Marshall-Smith), on the ground that he was opposing the board’s endeavour, to secure the speedy completion of portion, of the harbour works as part of the scheme which not now approaching fulfilment. The chairman later withdrew his demand, with the remark that he had “got it off his chest.” This, however, d?d not close the discussion, for the board proceeded to debate the report from the engineer, which contained the assertion that through excessive zeal on the part of certain unamed members of the board considerable, embarrassment and difficulty had caused in maintaining * discipline and carrying on the work, while the allegation was made that at times instructions had been given to workmen or contractors without the knowledge of the engineer. Board members sought to identify the culprits, and challenged the en"inner to produce proof ’ of his assertions, the majority of the board holding that the terms of the paragraph were indiscreet, if not insulting. After a debate of two hours the engineer agreed to withdraw the para-„ graph from his report, and the whole subject was dropped, with mutual assurances, of better feeling in future, j , .•-:0 _ .sh o.! ' ■' i a.-fiHtftO.'W .'.)/!$)'• .. ■'.A ■ ■■■' ‘ P.HOiO i v