HARBOUR BOARD'S CONSTITUTION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD'S CONSTITUTION

SUGGESTION FOR REFORM

COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE

A special committee was set up at the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday, on th®, motion of Mr H. M. Chrystall, to consider and report upon the constitution of the board, with a view to giving city interests greater representation.

Mr Chrystall's motion read: That a special committee, consisting of Messrs W. G. Gallagher, J. W. Bowden, W. J- Walter, E. J. Howard, M.P., Captain H. Monro, and the mover, be appointed to consider and report upon the question of the constitution of the board and the possibility of improving upon the present representation. * » In moving his motion, Mr Chrystali said that it had nothing to do with access to the port, but merely to the representation of the various interests. He thought some better constitution could be found, the present constitution, he believed, having been modelled on the Mersey Trust in 185 S. There were various constitutions throughout the world, but the present constitutions in New Zealand were about 14 members. Four represented the city, and in some other particularly Auckland and Wellington, there were two representatives of payers of dues. One thing that might be done, he thought, was to have another representative, of payers o dues representing shipping interests. Of the capital value of the boaid* area o£ £83.000.000, the city sented £37,000,000, and he thought the city should have better representation. He did not think country ir l need fear that it was a move to give the city more representation at the ex pense of the country. _ The motion was carried.

Details of Tenure. The constitution of the Lyttelton Hnrbom Board is as follows, the prinK authorities for conducting the elections in each case being given in P£ T^ tenure of office-Four mSbcrs elected by the electors of the dty of Christchurch (Chrislchurch Ci?y Council); one by the electors in tli" combined district of the boroughs of Kalapoi and Rangiora and }hc coun tics of Rangiora, Eyre, and OM°' cl Kaiapoi Borough Council); one by the (•lectors in the combined districts ol . the boroughs of New Brighton SumHer. Lyttelton. and Akaroa, an.l the Hectors of the counties of Akaioa, Wahwa and Mount Herbert 'Lyttel- | ton Borough Council); one by the, payers of harbour dues on g"P s - ' Three Years' tenure of ofhce—Two I members "elected by the electors in the , combined district of (he county of Ashburton and the borough of Ash- | burton < Ashburton County Council). | one by the electors in the combined district of the county of Waimain and | the borough of Riccarton (Waimain . County Council); two by the electors; in the'combined district of the counties ; of Paparua, Tawera. Malvern, Springs , Ellcsmere. Halswell. Hcathcote, and | Selwyn (Paparua County Council); one by the electors in the combined i district of Cheviot. Amuri, Waipara, . Kowai. and Ashley (Kowat County Council): one member appointed by the Governor-General. Broadly speaking, the town mem- I bcrs are elected on the municipal , franchise (practically a residential , qualification), and the country members are elected on the county fran- j CDracti-allv a ratepayers' quail- | ncat'on). The two franchises operate ride by side in the combined districts. ~~~ _ I