The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1895.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1895, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1895.

Mr Seddon received the deputation from the Wellington Carrier's Union, which was appointed to complain thnt the Harbour Board was guilty of favouritism, and to suggest as a remedy direct popular election of members instead of the present mixed system of election by local bodies and appointment by the Crown. The latter has been tidopfod in tho formation of almost all the Harbour Boards in the colony in imitation, of tho trusts which manage harbours and docks in various parts of the United Kingdom. It is perfectly true that a good many of the New Zealand Harbour Boards have spent their monoy or that of other people too fast and to littlo good effect, but it may be doubted whether there would havo been greater economy if the members had been chosen by the vote of all inhabitants enjoying the Parliamentary franchise. Mr Seddon said that in the case of thn Wellington Harbour Board tho Government had -watched vory closely tho actions of tho member appointed by itself, and had no fault to find with them. He was also inclined to beliovo that the Secretary would not permit favouritism regarding carriers on the wharf, but thought that possibly injustice had been done by subordinate officers. Ho addod that even tho Government found that acts of tyranny had been committed in its departments by certain officials on their juniors. It is satisfactory to know that he has dealt with cases of tho kind in such a manner ns to warrant him in believing that they will nut bo repeated. Ifc is to be hoped that he has dealt with all cases in which Ministers have been accused of oppression, and that in future no reason will be given for the belief that ihs " colour " of an I

officer who does his duty is taken into account, or for instance that any man, whose term cf sorvice has been so long that a year or two more would entitle him to a pension is being sent about from pillar to post in order to induce him to resign. In spite of the fact that he has no complaints to make against the Wellington Harbour Board Mr Seddon desires tosee itand nil similar bodies and all municipal Councils elected on a wide suffrage. He says that thousands of people who are really ratepayers are not on j^tho municipal rolls, in which case the administration of the law is very defective.- The Government intends, with a view to correct this injustice, to re-introduce the Municipalities Amendment Bill. TinPremier rather cleverly continued that the widening ot the franchise was a question for consideration by the people themselves, and he would therefore suggest that the members of the deputatipn should approach the city members and ask them to support the Government measure. As Sir Hubert Stout and Messrs Bell and Duthie are not particularly friendly to the Government the suggestion that a section of their constituents should use their influence with them in favour of a ministerial bill is decidedly artful. In effect the Premier acknowledges that if the Carriers Union haa a grievance it is a small one, for which the Board and its superior officers are not responsible. The occasion certainly was not a great enough one on which to raise the whole question of the municipal franchise, but as a party man perhaps Mr tieddou cannot be much blamed for making all the use that he could of it.