HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Last session of Parliament there was circulated among members a new Harbours Bill, which, however, did not come before the House for consideration owing to pressure of other business. There is every probability that this Bill will _ be again brought forward in the ensuing session, and as under its. provisions for the constitution of Harbour Boards no special representation thereon has been given to the Chambers of Commerce, it is felt that commercial and shipping interests may be' prejudiced. Taking the case of the Wellington Hprbp>ir Board, the new Bill provides, apart from nominated and ex-offioio members; for twelve elective members, Of these, three are to be elected by the electors of the City of Wellington, /'whether such is by the electors of a

local authority or by a local authority:; .and includes, any member elected by :tlic payers of dues or charges, orjowners of ships." The omission, to ; give special representation on the . Hoards to the- Chambers of ; Commerce • 'has_ not, escaped the notice of these bodies, and in last Tuesday's issue of The, Dominion was published a letter 'from Mr. S. Carroll, secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce, addressed .to the Minister for M;arine, directing attention to the matter. The arguments adduced were that Harbour Boards exercised a large measure of control over the arrangements under Vliicli the trade- of' the country, so momentous to. the prosperity, and well-being of the community, is carried on, and that, therefore, it was of' the first importance that these Boards should contain a strong element, of mercantile, experience; further, that under a system wholly elective there was no assurance that men of good judgment, ability,; and experience in. commerce, shipping, and finance would find seats on the Boards, There can belno doubt that these .arguments are I both just and sound. •It is quite feasible 1 to anticipate, owing to the many influences operating on mere popular election, that men might be placed upon tlie Harbour Bo.ards who have, no special, qualifications whatever for such a position. As Mr. : Carroll goes on,'to say, "the-proceed-ings of such a. body' might result in disastrous consequences tOj possibly, the most important ports of the Dominion," and, he migOit have added, to its trade. : ,v ' On behalf of tha local Chamber ol Commerce, ■ Mr.' Carroll ' urges that nomination of a. given number; of members by the Chambers is far more likely to secure a fair quota, of suitable men than the open elective 'principle, and that, instead of- curtailing ..the privileges ,now, enjoysd, the proportion of members so elected should be increased,', thus allowing fair representation . of the : interests"", pf. producers and'' consumers, a& well as, . pi', those moi;e. imipediately. concerned, in ships and shipping., ' Stre§s : 'i? laid on ,tlie fact that, this is, especially- desirable in .the case of Boards, that dp not; possess rating powers,, but obtain their income entirely as payment . for services rendered. .Unquestionably the . Chambers of Commerce of the Dominion—for all these, bodies share in the -views- expressed by Mr. • Carroll—make 1 out' s very;strong, case, and are doing a public service in urging- its- importance upon, the Minister for Marine;, Wiaj object was intended to be served . by the, Bill in ignoring: the Chambers ol Commerce, and placing all the powers and : privileges of election on a mere popular basis, it, is. hard to; say.. . The reasonable, . to. regard -. the questioii is 1 tliat, -after pioyidin" .for "due; representation on the Harbour .Boards ol • the , general ' public, the,' : remaining members; so far as the ports are con- • cerned,, sliould be regarded ■ from : tlie 1 standpoint of specialists 'on the sub; •• jects ' of : commercej shipping,' and fin- ; ance. It is not every: man who if ■ eligible under this : ,-proposed new- Bill io, a seat on' these Boards, and whe may- be other-wise a-'most estimable citizen,, vho ,caii be, said . to - possess ■ special knowledge of these matters, Unfortunately, ' also, ' experience - has shown;, that the. electors do, not always weigh a candidate's fitness for a position as 'against his other . and quite irrelevant'■ claims - to.' tlei?'-' suffrages The Chambers of' Commerce are, from their ■ very constitution and the, per§dhnel of their 'membership, l /peculiarly , qualified to select, men suitable- foi seats on Harbour Boards, and decided,lj the privilege'.of a 'fail proportion of the local representatioi should be placed in their hands. Sucli a privilege,, it-is needless to say, would not, one might almost, say could not, be abused. It is to be Hoped the Minister, for Marine' will accord favourable attention to the; Chambers representations, and amend ~the constitution of the Harbour Boards .in the ! proposed new Bill) so, as to • give effect to the objects desired.