HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6491, 18 September 1915, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

A communication was resd at the Ust meeting of the Tauranga Harbuor Bofrd from the Secretary of the Marine Department, who notified that Order-in-Council had been issued declaring that there shall be an additional member on the Taursnga Harbour Board to be elected by the electors of the Te Puke town district.

Mr Adams said the Board had received no notification in regard to the matter until now. The cutting out of the town district from the county did not increase the valuation or the population. The promoters of (ha Harbour tioard Bill had. on the representations of the people in the eastern district, taken a member from the payers of dues and added an extra member to that district. The population of the district westward of TBUranga had greatly increased of late year?, and that area will be justifkd in appealing for extra representation. It was also right that the payers of dues should be represented on the Board, as they had doubled or trebled in numbers snee the establishment uf Board. The Chairman quoted valuations and contended that the county compared with the borough was considerably under-represented. Mr Adams replied it was a question of population and the poor man's vote was as good as the rich man's. Mr Lally argued that rating must b considered. He said the valuations as supplied to the Bay of^Hplenty Hospital and Charitable Aidßoard were: Tauranga County £1,172,068 Tauranga Borough £250,509. The county and town board district would now have six representatives, but even if they had eight they would not be over represented. Mr Green said the present valuation of the Borough was £385,000. —Mr Southey wanted to know on what basis the valuation was arrived at. Te | Puke had formed a town district, thus securing a representative, and the same thing might happen at Greerton and Katikati. Mr Gill said he hoped to see an increase in the representation of the Harbour Board, but trusted it would come from an extended area. He would be sorry to see anything in the nature of a controversy" between the borough and county. The letter was received.