HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

OLD SYSTEM TO CEASE. USE OF FRANCHISE TO FOLLOW. There lias bppn much speculation as io ■what the provisions of the Hon. J. A. Millar's new Harbour Boards Amendment Bill will -be. It was understood that the Minister for Marine intended bringing do'.vn proposals to wipe out the existing system of nominative representation, but hitherto there ; has only been tie purest speculation on the part of the general public as to what the bill will provide. This morning a "Star" representative obtained from the Hinisier for Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) an interesting interview, dealing -with a few of the more important proposals contained in the bilL If the amendments to the existing Act, as brought down by Mr. Millar, are agreed to by Parliament, the present method of electing members to Harbour [Boards will ceas(. to operate, and the municipal or local bodies' franchise Will (Obtain. That is to- sa-y, in the counties ine country rolls will "be followed, and in the boroughs the borough rolls will ibe adopted. The maximum will be one vote in all cases. Provision will be made to give direct representation t»-. shipjKSg interests, to the extent of ono member. The only nominated.' candidates will be the two Government nominees—and the Government will not; . lappoint more than, two members to any Board. Payers of dues will also hare the right to elect one representative. The remainder ■will be elected on the franchise. The Minister proposes ihoiding these elections for Harbour Board members on the same day as local ■bodies' elections, thus tending to bring about gradually one day for the election of representatives to different bodies. The question of representation, added the Minister, would be settled by provision made in the schedule. A city like Auckland, on the strength of its valuation and interests, would possibly elect three representatives, but instead of returning them on the nomination of the City Council, they will be duly elected iby the ratepayers. The schedule would further enumerate the counties and local Jbodies entitled to representation or joint representation. The Minister added that ihe did not' believe in large and unwieldly iboards, ajnd fourteen members •would ibe the limit for any Board. Neither did he favour granting representation to districts 150 miles away from the port. .It meant an expense in bringing such representatives down to Board meetings, and-likewise meant' that they were -unable to participate in the committee and detail work connected with the 'Board's administration.