FRANCHISE PROBLEM

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1935, Page 4

FRANCHISE PROBLEM

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION POSITION OF KAMO TOWN AREA

The inequitable position of all Kamo Town Board District citizens being able to vote against county ratepayers to apnoint three members to the Whangarei Harbour Board, was ventilated at this morning’s meeting of the board.

A letter was received from the County Council asking if the board v/ould support the council in urging the Marine Department to have Kamo Town District combined with the Hikurangi Town District for the purpose of electing one representative to the Harbour Board. The County Council forwarded the copy of a letter sent to the Undersecretary of the Department of Marine, stating that at present the Kamo Town District was combined with the county for the return of three representatives to the Harbour Board, and it was urged, in. view of the difference in franchise, that where possible local bodies should be grouped in keeping with their franchise. It was pointed out that, for returning a representative to the Hospital Board, the Kamo Town District was combined with the Hikurangi Town District.

The Marine Department’s reply was that to comply with the request it’ would be necessary to amend the first schedule of the Harbours Adt, 1923. The request, however., would be taken into consideration when the schedule was being revised. The chairman* Mr. J. A. Finlayson, explained that when the Kamo Towm Board was formed the question of the’ Harbour Board election was overlooked. The position at present was that every adult resident of Kamo had a vote against the ratepayers of the county: •

Mr. Gardner moved that the board support the request, and the motion was carried.