FRANCHISE ANOMALY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 14

FRANCHISE ANOMALY.

KAMO TOWN BOARD. QUESTION OF ALTERING ACT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Friday. The inequitable i>osuion or the Kamo Town Board being.able to vote against county ratepayers to appoint their members to the Whangarei Harbour Board was ventilated at this morning's meeting of the board. A letter was received from the County Council asking if the board would support the council in urging the Marine Department to have Kamo town district constituted with the Hikurangi town district for the purpose of electing one representative to the Harbour Board. The County Council forwarded the copy of a letter sent to the Under-Sec-retary of the Department of Marine, stating that at present the Kamo town district was combined with the county for the return of three representatives to the Harbour Board, and it was urged, in view of the difference in franchise, that where possible local bodies should be grouped in keeping with their franchise. It was pointed out that, for returning a representative to the Hospital Board, the Kamo town district was combined .with the Hikurangi town district.

The Marine Department's reply was that, to conform with the request, it would be necessary to amend the first schedule of the Harbours Act, 1923. The request, however, would be taken into consideration when the schedule was reviewed. Mr. Gardner moved that the board support the request, and the motion was carried.