HARBOUR BOARD EJECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 92, 11 January 1908, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD EJECTION.

. TO TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 10.' POSSIBLE' CHANGES IN '. PERSONNEL. ' Tlje. next matter, of 'intorOSit ;affectifig ;a local body is the Harbour ■ Board election which takes place tm February 10 next, on whiph occasion l every membor, except the Government nominees : and , the -,Mayor." of NVcllington',' has to be. elected; or'-ro-electod as the case'may be; - v . ■ The Board-at present is .constituted- as follows: —Ex-officio member, Mayor of Wollihgton;': Government npminoos, Hons,. T. Kennedy Ma/idonald. (chairman);, .and '' T. . H. Fraser, M.L.C.'s, and ,'T. M. '• '.Wilford,, M.P.; . representative Chamber of Commerce, Mr. .Geo. Shirtcliifo; representative local bodies, Mr. F. Townsond (absent) ;■ re-' presontativp Mr., C. E. Daniel; roprosentativp Manawatu,' Mr. W. T. Wood, M.P.;, representative payors, of -dues,, Mr. Jas. M'Lollan; representative 'Wellington ratepayc-rsj Messrs. /R. Fletcher and H. Beauchamp. ' ' i With respect to the'representative of .the Chambor. of Cominerce the; position' is somewhat Some time.<ago tho Chamber decided by resolution that' its representative on tho Board should be the President, for the time being, but at the end of tho last term, Mr. Shirtcliffe iwho was the retiring Prosidant ; at. the Chamber), was .asked' :.to sit on the Board for a .s\:cpnd, tprm,,- so that Mr. Harkness (whose term of. office, as President ends early next month) has nqtacted on the Board at al). It is, however,, oh the cards that. lie. may be, asked to act as Chairman for another term; in which case lie is almost 'sure to ropresent the Chamber on the Board. , , V . >' The local bodies' representative, Mr. Fred Townsond,.. has been absont from Wellington for some months, health-ceeking on . the other side of. the. world. This member is appointed by a conference of delegates - of local bodies,, who have-to meet on or before January 21. • ' The. names of Messra: C. Crawford. (Mayor of Miramar), F. G. Bolton (Maivor of Eastbourne), H..-Baldwin (Hutt Council), and D. AVatson (Onslow .Qoiincil), are mentioned as possible candidates' for tho position. ' ■■' -V'-:

It is - not lilcoly ■ that either, the TVairarapa Or Manawatu will chango their rc-presenta-tives. ' , ■■ . . .V

The payers of dues havo been represented for a long timo by Mr. James M?Eellan, who will again,'be a candidate for/membership. So far no other candidates have been proposed under this lioad. ' '•' Mr. Harold Bcauchamp has informed members of the Board that, he will, not be a; candidate far membership-this year as onfi of the ratepayers' representatives, but • Mr. Robert Flfctcher will seek re-election. -Tho names -of ; Mr. AV. Hildrcth and Mr. Geo.. ShirtclifFo havo'-'boan" mentioned' as possible candidates for: the suffrago. ■_ •- Tho election; will be one of. the. most' important hold for saveral'y6ars,'bfring'.to the' retirement' of tho ■ Secretary and j Engineer/ Mr. IVini Ferguson, •■who'has 1 always played a strong . hand in' tlio affairs 'of : tho Board. His ideas-'"iir certain , directions have ■■ been' assailed recently, and Mr. Ferguson has, not ho'sit'atcd"to' cay-that' it is. partly oh account of 1 this that'; lie-' decided W' terminate his agreomoiit- with'the Board. ' - Tho "critical olemcnt has been more hoticoa.bl.o iiv Harbou'r Board affairs of late, _ and ihero are indica l lions that tho. policy of the Board will ; ,be varied slightly from : .what it has'been iir.tKei past. In respect of. administration S .radical.' change has already, :beon mado. ; by! what _is practically the setting-up of departments, instead of allowing tlie control of, affairs an each department, to be concentrated in the ono person.. For those 'several roasons,and tho fact that the Board is engaged in Soveral big works of moment to tho port, added interest will be lent to,next month's election.