LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13875, 28 October 1910, Page 8

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

DISCUSSION IX PARLIAMENT,

(special to "ths treks. ,, ) WELLIXGTOX, Octobers:,

"While the Harbours Bill was mm I considered in the House to-night, Stl T. E. Taylor urged that all themes.! bers should bo elected, lio did ts.s think the Government should hing representation on such bodies as foi Lytteltnn Board. The Government !»»§ absolutely no responsibility for [jjl Board's loans, which were repaid outi'p the revenue from dues. Ho morodijß delete from the internnstatkin clic-jf? all reference to the appointment il- :- ---members by the Government. * 1 The Minister objected, and s&id ij* would report progress on the Billif £,| amendment were carried. 1 Mr Witty said he would voto aqarc-t 1 the amendment. He wished tho BiJl'^l Mr G. W. Russell said thatifrfl what the Minister had said lie vote against his convictions—* tbg 1 ho had never done beiore. (Luugbitr.} a Mr Hemes : Your convictions cut i bo very big, then. jg Mr Russell said though he regitttejji there was to be a Government BtsuJitr fl on tho Lyttelton Board, he waejft-B pared to swallow this because the let 8 of the Bill was good. He was & m her of the Hoard, and at overy ast'S ing he found himself confronted v»iu(l[ row of graven images. (Lauglib?,) |§ There was a big proposition of gusue images who voted exactly as tho at the head of .the Board directed, fi. If Bill gave a working chance of seaßijjß a majority for tho Sumner canal, &i supporters of which would havo atkaS an opportunity of fair play. That a S his reason for voting for the Bill. B Mr Witty referred to the prcsentiit.fi satisfactory arrangement in conneiasiS with, the Board. Hβ was propiittiij)|j give somethiug up to effect an impnteß nient. ■ || Tho Minister said ho would pose a reduction to one GoTcnassS nominee all round, though he wouldfc(S vote for it. B Mr Taylor said he would be waljß to accept a compromise on the basiaiig one Government nominee for Board, and would therefwj, his amendment. ■. ■ ~. l« This was agreed to. . - S Mr Taylor then moved -to : #«|| "canal" to the list of work&'that ffli Harbour Board may carry out, ■ M The Minister said that a ctOal «jt|| not a harbour work in. the utiimM sense pi' tho word, and be would cpptsM the amendment. M Mr Davey said the insertion of _&|| word would not do any harm; ia Lftig Bill would still be required. • m The Hon. A. Millar putting m of the word would notles! the Christchurch people to canal, because they could not epemiiffi penny outside the harbour limits.; || Mr Russell said the GovamiwEß should not stop it if it' was a $*&M thing. -', H The' Minister: No. X ! Mr Taylor asked why, it the B»# could make the canal out of its, &&M iiry finances, it should not do bo. . ' : -, g The amendment was negatived <!*■& votes to 19. ■ l| Mr Davoy moved as an affiondßei'K to clauao 4 that members ntasr ÜB'p those specially elected should be elerfsg on the Parliamentary franchise.- ", ' B Mr Massey said that his exß«nHß|| was that people in general &*j!?-?jjl interest in Harbour Boards. jection to a Parliamentary fraitfnweH tho matter of Harbour Board electswH was that it would play into tha hsirtß of organised cliques. He r ffe*i »B might say, not referring to erflJßfiJg pclitical organisations. , ",J§ The Hon. J. A. Millar said h?«m not accept the amendment, tt ' ~!ar ß mean that a special roll would•!»»*■ be printed. He would admit tfr-B there was some injustice. If, ™* tho House liked to approve of the*a*g> tional cxnonse, he would not oJ j*r.B Mr.Davey said that if tho Corponitions Bill were passed, involve tho compilation of new ioib-,! Mr Craigie wan of opinion '«** *Vj B Parliamontarv franchise were al *T B it would lead to a great dc 4 of'wi fusion and expense. " . B Mr Gbv-er taid that he inUSW«"S support the amendment, vihica. * S B thoroughly democratic in c\uJt*rtf: ~S The amendment was rejected. W "| votes to 21. I