HARBOUR BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21971, 24 May 1941, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD

Chairman Re-elected Committees Appointed At the annual meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board yesterday, the chairman, Mr F. R. Flatman, was reelected unopposed for. a further term. Mr R. S. Goodman was re-elected deputy-chairman. The chairman said that it was not necessary for him to review the past year at length as the members were fully conversant with all matters relating to the Board’s affairs. The members knew as much as he did, as his instructions to the secretary, Mr G. R. Lee, were to make everything available to the Board as soon as any matter had progressed beyond the stage when premature release would be injudicious. The Board members had come through a hard year. The Board had closed down fhe quarries and had had to dismiss men. The confidential circular which had been distributed to members in connection with the amendment to the Loan Bill, and which would be discussed later, was something worthwhile, and showed that the Board had not lost any time in making arrangements to put it on a sound basis. Tribute to Chairman In moving the election of Mr Flatman as chairman, Mr H. M. Whatman said that he was confident that the members were of the opinion that Mr Flatman's re-election would be in the best interests of the Board. The nomination was seconded by Mr R. S. Goodman, who said Mr Flatman had done excellent work. The last year had been probably the most difficult in the history of the Board. He had pulled the Board through difficulties and would do so again. Mr Flatman, who was elected unopposed, acknowledged the tribute. He had been 18 years on the Board, and the recent occasion had been the only one in which he had had to contest an election. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £lOO. In proposing Mr Goodman as deputy-chairman, for a further term, Mr Flatman said that he had helped the Board materially last year. Mr Goodman had done many things for. which possibly the speaker secured the credit. Mr Goodman was re-elected.

New Committees The following committees, of which the chairman of the Board is an ex officio member, were elected. Finance and Administration Committees—Messrs R. S. Goodman (chairman), T. B. Garrick, W. Lindsay and B. H. Howell. Trade and Revenue Committee— Messrs W. H. Hall (chairman), H. J. R. Somerville, H. M. Whatman, P. Kidd and W. H. Orbell. Emergency Committee—Messrs F. R. Flatman, R. S. Goodman and W. H. HftU. Disputes Committee—Messrs K. Mackenzie, W. H. Orbell and R. S. Goodman. Mayor’s Emergency Organisation Committee—Messrs A. F. Campbell (chairman), T. R. Rhodes and A. J. Davey. The Board went into committee to consider preliminary matters in connection with the proposed amendment to the Loan Bill. Waterside Workers Hall The Finance Committee recommended, inter alia:— “On being advised of the resolution passed at the last . meeting of the Board the Waterside Workers’ Union advised that they would agree to the system laid down by the Board if the Board would agree to pay the water charges (£5/15/- annually), the lighting and heating in addition to keeping the haU clean. After considerable' negotiation the Union consented to resume the use of the hall and carry on normally at least until May 23, when the Board will meet to consider the above request. , ’ T"; “The committee recommends that),as it would be impossible to collect the accounts from the Union, the Board should rebate the water charges and also the annual locker (rents £6/13/-) and pay the lighting charges but that under no circumstances should the. Board agree to be responsible for ■ the heating. The £6/13/- rebate will offset the heating. “The Union also demanded that the Board should pay the caretaker his wages from January 1 to April 26, totalling £l6/-/-. The committee recommends that a compromise be effected in this Instance by rebating the one year’s locker rents (£6/13/-) due on December 31 last, the proportion of locker rents due to date and one overdue account for water (£2/17/6). This will amount to appreciably more than half the Union’s claim. After some discussion, ihc latter portion of Which was taken in committee, it was decided, on the motion of Messrs H. M. Whatman and B. H. Howell, that the Disputes Committee of the Board meet the Waterside Workers’ Union and discuss the matter on the basis of the Finance Committee’s recommendation. Aiding War Effort The Lake County Council, Queenstown, sought the Board’s support of a resolution which pointed out that the effect of existing legislation relative to labour was so retarding production and business activities, that the war effort was being definitely and seriously retarded. In order to permit the Dominion to throw the whole weight into the present conflict in an unrestricted manner, the Council considered the Government should at once be pressed to bring about the immediate cessation of the 40-hour week, together with its many hampering regulations. The Council further contended that the temporary waiving of Ideals, rights and privileges of both employer and employee was in the present circumstances fully justified, and it the people of New Zealand were to be permitted to co-operate to the full, as was being done in England, and give their unlimited backing to the fighting forces, who were making tremendous sacrifices on their behalf, all such obstacles should at once be removed It was agreed to support the resolution, with the exception, on the suggestion of Mr H .M. Whatman, that the extension of the 40-hour week, if acceded to, should not apply to female workers.