"LABOUR MAN” CHOSEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23315, 26 September 1945, Page 4

"LABOUR MAN” CHOSEN

Harbour Board Appointment Minister Of Marine Explains Mr M. E. Hayman was appointed to rhe Timaru Harbour Board in preference to Major N. A. Rattray because Mr Hayman was “a Labour man.” This was the reply of the Minister of Marine (the Hon. J. O’Brien) yesterday when a representative of “The Timaru Herald,” during a telephone conversation, asked the Minister why a returned soldier had not received consideration. The vacancy was created by the death of Mr H. Max Wnatman, who represented the borough of Waimate and the Makikihi, Deep Creek and part of the Waihao ridings of the Waimate County. Major Rattray was nominated by the Waimate Borough Council and the Waimate County Council to fill the vacancy, while the' Waimate Labour Representation Committee nominated Mr Hayman, the Governor-General having the power to make the appointment of a representative of such a combined district where a similar vacancy occurs. "Mr Hayman was recommended by the local people,” said Mr O’Brien. "Both nominations were sent to Wellington for recommendation, and Mr Hayman, who was recommended by our own people in the district, was approved. He .was a Labour man and we supported his nomination. That was only natural. Wherever possible we endeavour to have men of our own party on public bodies, it was the case when the previous Government was in power and we follow suit.” When Major Rattray’s war record was referred to the Minister, Mr O’Brien said that he had no idea that he was a returned man. “If I had known that, it would have made all the difference,” he said. “Naturally a returned man would have received first preference. It has always been our policy to support returned men. but in this case the fact that Mr Rattray had been overseas was not mentioned in the recommendation, to the best of my knowledge.” Mr O'Brien quoted the case of Mr Herrick, of Napier, who, although he was not the recommendation sent forward by the majority of the Napier Harbour Board, received the approval of the Marine Department because he had a number of sons serving overseas. Sir Herrick was now chairman of that board, concluded the Minister. Mr Hayman is a farmer, of Willowbridge. Major Rattray was a member of the Imperial Army for eight years. He served in the 1914-18 war and left New Zealand with one of the early echelons of the Second World War. He r- rved in the Middle East and was captured by the enemy, spending a number of years as a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany. He was repatriated recently. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre and received Mention in Dispatches.