Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1905. THE NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, 24 August 1905, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1905. THE NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

A CONSOLIDATING AND ENABLING BILL. IN view of the circumstance tliat the NelsQn Harbour Board is now approaching its last instalment of tho loan fix>m the Australian Mutual Provident Society afe 4 pen cent it is of interest and importance that tho consolidating and enajbling bill which has bem reported on by tho Local Bills Committee of the Houso of Representatives should! pass into the statute books as early as possible. The Bill has been recommended by the Local Bills Committee for passage. As thero aro no controversial issiioS unless '"underground engineering" be reverted to, the Board should ba in a position to obtain the , remainder of the amount needed under tho sanctioned loan in time to cxbfviato em harassment. It may be pointed out. however, that as' a safeguard against any possible hitch thero is a sum of nearly £&000 on fixed deposit, savings "from revenue, which could be used while the Board iB waiting for the removal of tho disability which now prevents it from borrowing at more than & per cent. • * • • The main provisions of the new Nelson Harbour Bill aro merely a consolidation of the main Act anid its amendments of 1901-2, and tno addition of power to borrow at interest up to 5 per cent instead of at a maximum of 4 per cent as hitherto. One alteration, however, ia likely to cause confusion unless batter defined, via., tlie omission of tho words "burgess roll" as relating to thc election of members. Clause 8 says : — "Every person whose name at the time of any election of u meni,ber of the Board is on tho 'electors' roll' in force in the respective city, 'borough or county referred to in the last preceding section (Nelson, Richmond, and Waimoa) in respect of any property or other qualification within the harbour district shall bo entitled to vote at such election for the subdivision wherein his name is enrolled." It is explained in the report of the Crown Law Draftsman that the term "Burgess Roll" fa omitted because the term used in the Municipal Corporations Act is "Electors' Roll." Rut unless there be some better definition indicating whether the present qualification to vote (that of a burgess) is extended to include the manhood and womanhood suffrage of the Parliamentary roll confusion is sure to arise. So far as we are aware the intention is to continue the prosent qualification ; but the wording of the clause l n the new bill, especially tho term ''or other qualification," opens up the -whole question of parliamentary or mum*i~ clpal voting. • » • • Tho membership of the Board is retained as at present, viz. three elected nuembors each for the city and for Waimea County; one member for Richmond ; and three members nominated by the Govemor-in-Council. It is provided, however that six members shall form the quorum at any meeting of the BoaHdf This provision was omitted from the original Act, but it was included in the amending Act of 1901, and it ia incorporated in tho consolidating measure. The sub" sidies and endowments of the Board remain virtually the same as before They include tbe foreshore of Nel*o« Harbour, and Waimea mudflats a s described and defined in the sche|dule ; all pilotage and port changes-, ! i a subsidy of £1500 per annum, diI mished, pound for pound for every t increase in the Board's revenue from! I pilotage and port charges over £1550 per annum ; and the £500 per annum in perpetuity, in lieu of the endowments excluded by the amending Act of 1901. The, subsidy of £15-00 por annum' determines ht tho end of not nwrt-e tban -thirty years, when the first debentures is*sued by the Board nwuture. • » * • With regard to the borrow-in® powers of the Board, authority is K*ivten to borrow £35,000 additional to the sanctioned loan after tibe usual statutory process of obfwinI fng tho sanction of the ratepayers j has Jieen complied witb. The Board | is. permitted in addition to raise the sum of £13,000, being* the unraiaed portion of the sanctioned loan of £65,000 at interest not exI ceoding- *5 per cent instead of as now at interest not exceeding 4 per oent. It dn provided that the Boend may arrange the interest pava/ble for this suim at £13,0*0 W»M M«*Ww«a ■ . ;*

at a rato not exceeding 5 per cent, without further seeking 4he tsanott©» of tbo ratepayers to alter the majcimum of such rato. The levy on the ratepayers to secure and pay loan and interest is a rate not exceeding id in tho £>. This security is of course in addition to tbat ot tbe ■endowments. •■#■»• Finally, th<*» provision of Section 5 of the Act of 1901 empowering the Governor to prohibit the continuance of work calculated to injure the harbour, and permitting modifications, is embodied -in the new bill. Conditions of membership acqaiired before the passing of tlie new Act continue unimpared, and*the right of creditors is not affected by consolidation or repeal. The Acts the Consolidating Bill repeals are tho Nelson Harbour Act 1900 ; Lhe Nelson Harbour Board Act Amemdinait Act of 1901 ; and the Kelson Harbour Board Act Amendment Act of 1902.