TRADES COUNCIL NOT TO BE GIVEN COPY OF HOSTEL EVIDENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 May 1950, Page 4

TRADES COUNCIL NOT TO BE GIVEN COPY OF HOSTEL EVIDENCE

A notice of motion, moved by Mr. N. Reid, that the motion "that tne request of the Trades Council for a copy of the evidence before the committee of enquiry into hostel complaints be granted," which was carried at the board meeting held on March 15 he rescinded, was carried, at last night s meeting of the Board ox Managers of the Wanganui Technical College. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. Reid, the notice of motion was moved by Mr. T. H. Smith and seconded by Mr. J. Patterson. Fur the motion were Messrs Smith, Patterson, J. C. Batt, W. G. Price, S. C. Shenton, S. Hall. Against the motion was Mr. H. Norris. In moving the motion, Mr. Smith said he was doubtful if a / Alee of motion was needed in viqv of the fact that legal opinion obtained by the board stated it was not competent for the board to supply a copy o’ the evidence to the Wanganui Trades Council. , Despite the legal finding, Mr. Norris said he was opposed to the motion and he wanted the evidence given to the Trades Council. “After all," he said, “we are a public bodv and we are responsible to the public. The general public should have the right to know the pros and cons. Is there something to hide? If there is nothing to hide there Is no reason why it should not be made publi n ” Mr. Norris said the Trades Council renresented the bulk of the people in the city. They also represented the bulk of the parents of children attending the college. He said they had a right to know why certain things were done and the onlv way they* could judge was tc be given a copy cf the evidence. Mr. Smith: It is interesting to note that when lhe request fo” evidence was received from the Trades Council I raised a point of our duty to the committee of enquiry. “Tn point of fact the evidence does not belong m the board. The evidence belongs to the committee of enquiry. The board is entitled, in strict law, only to lhe findings of the enquiry. Mr. Patterson said he had always been against a committee of enquiry. “We have failed in our duty ns n bos rd,” he said. It was pjolnted out that the board decided to obtain legal advice rfter a letter had been received from a ber of the committee of enquiry protesting* at the board’s de p: .sio" tn give the evidence to the Trjdes Council