AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 551, 5 July 1909, Page 8

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

REPRESENTATION PROPOSALS

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) . ..Auckland, July 3,

At tho mooting of tho Auckland Harbour BoardJ in oommittee, yesterday, the chairman (tho Hon. E. Mitchelson) submitted a schemo' for tho future constitution of tho Auckland Harbour Board. The scheme was as follows: — . (1) That tho number of members of the Auckland Harbour Board bo increased from 13 to 16. , (2) That tho constitution of tho Auckland Harbour Board bo amended in tho direction of providing that all elections of members shall bo conducted in tho same manner as Parliamentary elections, and that tho Bamo persons who are entitled to vote at a Parliamentary election shall bo oligiblo to vote for members of the Auckland Harbour Board.

(3) That tho representation . be amended as follows:- 1 -Six niembers to be elected by the electors, whose names are on the electoral rolls for Auckland City East, West, and Central; two to bo appointed by tho Govoraor-in-Council; two to bo elected by tho electors of tho electorate of Waitcmata; one by the electors of Eden; ono by tho electors of Grey Lynn; one, by tho electors' of Manukau; one by tho electors of Parnoll; and one by. tho electors of Franklin, making 15 in all. : v The chairman said the dues were paid by tho consumers, not by the merchants; who simply acted as a medium. He contended, therefore, that the electors should have tho right of electing tho members of the board. He had proposed to increase the membership of the board from 13, to 15, in order that the outer districts might bo represented. He had left the northern districts out of his scheme because most of them bad ports and harbour boards of their own. Members would also notice that he , had given Auckland City Bix representatives in place of eight, as at present. He had also allowed ;for two members being / appointed by, the Governor-in-Council, because .. it . was- not likely that the, Government, with the interest it took in harbour boards, would allow itself to_ go without' direct representation; The Minister for Marine; before passing tho Harbours Act, was evidently waiting: for recommendations from the different boards, and ho thought -they should get their recommendations in, . ; as V soon as possible.;. '} In the discussion which followed, members generally signified, their approval, of election on the Parliamentary-.franchise, l . It was decided to add. the words, "pro- , vided the Manukau Harbour Bill is passed," to .Clause 1, and, in regard to Clause 2, to urge ;that the elections should be; triennial.'. Regarding the third clause, it was decided to recommend that the electorates of Eden and: Grey Lynn be given one representative between them, and tho electorate of Manukau two representatives. ■ : Further consideration of the schemo < was postponed until details of the cost" of an election on the Parliamentary franchise. had boon obtained. ,; ..