MAJORITY RULE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8209, 5 August 1915, Page 7

MAJORITY RULE.

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION. "A GREAT INJUSTICE."

A fortnight ago the Lyttelton Harbour Board held a special meeting for consideration of Bills which have been introduced into Parliament, and which are. intended to alter the constitution of the Board. That meeting was held in accordance with a resolution proposed by Mr F. Horvell. When the special meeting opened, Mr Horrell moved —"That, in view of the crisis through which the Empire is passing, and the consequent embarrassment of the central government, the time is not opportune to introduce any alteration of the existing system of local government." That was carried. However, at yesterday's ordinary meeting of the Board a letter was received from the Secretary of Marine, forwarding a copy of the Lyttolton Harbour Board Elections Bill. As soon as this letter was read, Mr H. F. Nicoll moved—" That .the Board acknowledge receipt of the letter from the Minister of Marine, and reply that, in view .of the proportional representation Bill for ..the liyttelton. Harbour Board being considered:.by Parliament at an"*-early date, this Board expresses its opinion that the' present system of election is more satisfactory, as itvprovides representation from all portions of the Harbour Board district on an equitable basis; that this Board is further of opinion that any_ radical change in the system of electing harbour boards should apply to, all harbour boards in the Dominion."

Mr J. J. Dougall suggested that notice of motion should have been given by Mr Nicoll. • Mr Allison pointed out that the Board had held a special meeting to consider the Bills, and the motion was therefore out of order now. • The chairman (Mr M. J. Miller) ruled that the motion could be put. Mr F. Horrell seconded the motion; i Mr R. M. Spiers said he was surprised that Mr Horrell should second the: motion, after moving, at the previous meeting, that the matter be not' discussed, for patriotic reasons. Mr Dougall moved, as an amend-, ' ment, that consideration of this subject be deferred until next meeting. Mr Allison seconded the amendment. Mr J. J' Graham remarked that he was not surprised to find Mr Nicoll bringing forward this motion, for Ashburton, which had two representatives for 15,000 people, while there wercr other individual"members of the Board, each representing 16,000 people, was' frightened of losing one of its seats' under proportional representation.

Mr Nicoll remarked that Mr Graham took a. wrong view of the effect of proportional representation. The. Board divided on the amendment. Messrs Kayo, Dougall, Allison, Speirs, Scott, and Graham voted for it.. Messrs Nicoll. Moore, Horrell, Stony, and Boag and the chairman voted against it. The chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment. Mr Dougall made a personal explanation of why he was going to vote against the motion. '■ He disagreed entirely with the contents.of the Bills, but he disagreed still more strongly with the attitude of the majority of the Board. A fortnight before the Board had decided not to discuss the Bills, for patriotic reasons, for the sake of preserving harmony at this. critical time in the country's'" affairs? Now the majority on the Board was trying to impose its opposition to the .Bill upon the minority, vrith'oiit regard to patriot-: ism or anything" else. It was inflicting a great injustice upon the minority^ on the Board,, and using its majority harshly and tyrannically. _ Again the voting for the motion was six to six. The chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the motion.