M'LEAN INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9308, 7 August 1908, Page 3

M'LEAN INSTITUTE.

■» A QUESTION OF REPORTING. The Board of Governors of the M'Lean Institute met. yesterday ; present — Bishop Grimes (in the chair), Bishop Julius, the Rev H. R. Dewsbury, and Messrs G. W. Russell, G. Payling, H. Cotterill, B, M. Molineaux, H. W. Bishop aud W. Dunlop. Before the commencement of the business Mr H. Cotterill brought up the matter of excluding Press representatives from the meetings of the Board. He said that, in view of the delicate matters which the Board would have to discuss, its successful administration of the Institute would be hindered by the publication of the proceedings. In regard to matters of finance and policy the public had a right to know what the Board was doing, but this could be as well effected by the secretary giving | a resume of the proceedings to the J newspapers. He moved that reporters j should oe excluded from all meetings. The Rev H. R. Dewsbury said that he thought the difficulty might be overcome by taking delicate matters in committee. Mr Payling expressed a similar opinion. * Mr Molineaux seconded the motion. Bishop Julius 6aid that the public would never be content with reports which cam© from th© chairman or the Board. Delicate matters could always be discussed in committee. Mr G. W. Russell said that a very large portion of the business was of a nature which he would not discuss before reporters. Mr H. W. Bishop said that he was bo used to being reported that he kept a good guard on his lips. Still, there were matters which ought not to be mad© public. He would say that the Press of Christchurch was very fair and careful in the reporting of delicate matters. If anonymous correspondents were as delicate as the reporters, there would be little to complain of. Leakages of information on business taken in committee came through members of a body, as a rule, and not from the reporters. He could not support the motion. The motion was lost on the voices. The Board then went into committee, and on jesuming it was repotted that Dr Alice Moorhoueo and Mrs J. H. Wilson had been appointed members of the Board; that it had been decided to meet <m the first Thursday v in each month, at 4 p.m. ; that the following committees had been appointed: — • House and visiting committee, Dr Moorhouse and Mrs J. H. Wilson, Bishop Julius, Bishop Grimes and Mr H. W. Bishop; finance committee, Messrs B.M. Molineaux, H. Cotterill, G. Payling, G. W. Russell and W. Dunlop; admission committee, Dr Moorhouse and Mrs J. H. Wilson, the Mayor, the Revs J. Mackenzie and H. R. Dewsbury, and Messrs H. W. Bishop and B. M. Molineaux; that Mr T. G. Russell had been appointed solicitor to the Board ; that the Bank of New South Wales had been appointed the Board's bank ; and that Mr W. Jamieson had been appointed auditor.