A QUESTION OF COST.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1911, Page 8

A QUESTION OF COST.

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS. PROTESTS FROM THE COUNTRY. " I am very sorry that these- nominations have been made," remarked the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. R. Fletcher) at the meeting of the board last night. He wafi informing the board that there would, en account of the. number of nominations, be a contest in the various outlying portions of "the district sending representatives to the board. Tha fact of such contests taking place would mean that the board would [be put to very considerable expense. He pointed that out to the Minister during the passage of the Harbours Bill last session, he added, and, though he was in favour of the •elective principle, he pointed out that th-e cost would be excessive, and lie was soi'ry that his anticipation would be realised. He ventured to say that as a result of this year's election® a very big effort would be made to alter the system. Mr. M. Cohen said he was afraid that the new system would result in little or no interest being taken by the country districts in the board elections. Mr. C. E. Daniell was of the same opinion, and he added that he had done all he could to promote a contest so as to show up the defects of the Act in 1 the respect alluded to. The chairman expressed the opinion that the Act had been wrongly framed. He thought the experience of the present election would be such as to bring about an- alteration of the law.