ECHO OF THE STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 3

ECHO OF THE STRIKE

FARMERS' VOTE ON HARBOUR BOARDS. ' , Country districts should.have more representation on the' Harbour Boards of Now Zealand,; in the opinion of the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which concluded its business in Wellington yesterday. At the conference Mr. ( Hugh Morrison (Masterton) moved to the "effect stated above, and said that the farmers never realised the importance of this matter until the recent'strike occurred. The Wellington Harbour Board consisted of fourteen members,'of which the Government nominated two, the payers of dues on ships elected two, the payers of other dues elected two, the city elected four, and 'the country four. The farmers, as producers, were inadequately represented,'and should .have special representation just as tho payers of dues had.;' He did not suggest whether the'board should be added to, or the position rectified by a. fresh allotment of representatives. Mr. J. Begg (Otago) opposed tho motion. Ho said that the country representative was not needed ai all in hie district. Mr. H. A. Nevins (Tenui) said that it was needed here, and he would strongly support it: Wellington farmers would see that they did not fail to vote at the next Harbour Board election, and get men : who would look after their "interests. . ... ■ .. ' . Canterbury delegates expressed surprise that a farmers' delegate should oppose the remit. Mr. G. Gardner eaid that sufficient reason for the remit was the fact that 75 per cent, of the Dominion's representatives came from the farms. • Mr. A. R. Ross (Auckland) expressed the opinion that the representation should be -in proportion to. valuation. Payers of dues should have no representation. . . The motion was carried.