HARBOUR FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 3

HARBOUR FINANCE.

(To the Editor.) ' r± Sir, —There is some control on th# Mayor as regards loan*, which has been frequently used lately, but there is abso* lutely none on the harbour boards of New Zealand. A more autocratic publio body it is impossible to conceive. The) harbour boards can borrow when they like and squander how they like. If the urban franchise is limited, the harbour franchise is only a negligible quantity, ifone can call a few score of payers a. franchise. And those few who exercise the right of nominating the Harbour Board fail to see that they themselves pay the harbour dues, not the few merchants who reap the benefit. The most amusing incident lately in harbour affairs was when the farmers humbly approached this august body and solicited the continuance of the railway scheme towards the Hohson Street wharf, against which the whole of I irenter Auckland is in revolt. The farmers cannot see that they themselves pay the greater part of the interest on the squandered millions. It must he manifest to the dullest intellect that the control of civic finance sadly needs amending in New Zealand, and it would be very interesting to know whether Auckland members of all creeds will 'take steps in that direction, or whether they will side with an arrogant, irresponsible body delving all Auckland | I am. etc. «>.S.