THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR RATE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1699, 11 August 1887, Page 2

THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR RATE.

To tht Editor of the Star.

Sib,— Will you favor me by insertiog tbe following in the columns of your paper regarding Mr. Yorke's statements at the meeting in the Manaia Town Hall on the 6th inn. in connection with tbe New Plymouth harbor tate. I would have replied to his remarks at the time, but did not care to take up the time of tbe meeting. In commencing his remarks, Mr. Yorke

stated (hit if the harbor rate wen illegal it might relieve the ratepayer* of a-heavy burden they can ill afford to bear. Bat he bad heard nothing in the opinion as read which would tempt him to delay paying his rate; and be went on to give bit reasons for doubting the board's having L-jade an illegal demand for rates. So far Mr. Yorke or anyone aloe had a right to express an opinion ; but Mr. Yorke stated that the ratepayers oo a part of that rating area proposed on a technical point to resist that rate, because, they said, the harbor was of little or no service to them. though there were a few who thought the harbor of some little use. It seems that the number is few indeed, and I believe that no one knows that better than Mr. Yorke. He knows perfectly well tbat the settlers in this district have unanimously, or nearly so, protested against the liability to pay this rate. Neither have the majority of the settlers believed in the success of the work, although Mr. Yorke apparently does. He seems to think tbat it would be a good thing if the ratepayers could be relieved of this heavy burden which they cna ill afford to bear. Did Mr. Yorke act on that principle when he represented this district on the Harbor Board ? When the bill prepared by Mr. Samuel, requesting Parliament to give the board further borrowing powers and power to levy another rate, was being discussed by the board, Mr. Yorke expressed himself as favorable to the motion, but could not very well vote for it, because the people in the district which be represented were opposed to it. Does not this sort of representation look rather shoddy— a sort t>( milk and water arrangement, or perhaps bare whey (and soar at tbat) would be a more proper term ot similitude ? That is not the form of representation the electors of Bangitikei received from Mr. Bruce when the Wang* anui Harbor Bill was being discussed in the House of Representatives. The principle he laid down for himself, and a very proper one it was, was tbat if he could not represent the views of his onstituents he had no right to occupy that seat. The ratepayers are not any more opposed to the paying of this harbor rate than they always have been. If Mr. Yorke does not choose to join the rest of the ratepayers in trying by every lawful means to get quit of the liability to pay this rate, which, Mr. Yorke admits, taey are ill able to bear, whether they succeed or not I don't believe any of the ratepayers will find fault with him. It is entirely a voluntary arrangement. The position, as far as it is known, is put before the ratepayers, and tbey can subscribe or hot, just as they think proper. What I have done has been at the request of tne ratepayers. The suggestion did not come from me ; and every ratepayer, with the exception of Mr. Yorke, seems anxious to have the case tested win or lose. In choosing a representative for nay at oar institutions in the future, the best thing, I think, we can do will be to choose one blind, deaf, and dumb — it any such poor unfortunate can be found. If he cannot do us any good he won't be able to do us much harm. — I am. &

Wilson Milne.