Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8483, 6 February 1891, Page 4

An election takes place on Monday of three members for the Harbour Board, and we would like to direct attention to it, so as to create greater public interest in the Board than has heretofore been shown. The constitution of that body has not proved very happy. The Auckland City Council send four members, the Parnell Borough sends one, the Devonport Borough Council sends another, Birkenhead and Northcote send' another,; two members are appointed by the Governor, while three are elected by those who pay £3 or upwards of harbour, dues. Nobody is satisfied with the constitution of the Board, but it is not easy to alter it, The income of the Board may be styled princely,amounting to somewhere about £50,000 a year. It can, we think boast of being the local body which has spent more than any other in New Zealand, and has the least to show for it.

The chief defect seems to us that the members coming from different quarters, and most of them having no direct concern with ships or shipping, take very little interest in the business. For instance, at the late annual meeting, when the chairman made a statement as to the position of the Board during the past year, out of fourteen members there were only three present besides the chairman. At the last ordinary meeting on Tuesday, when it was known that some important business was to be brought up, and that a number of merchants were to wait on the Board, there were seven present besides the chairman. Even this scarcely gives an idea of how the business is conducted. The chief witness against the Board is the chairman. At the last meeting there was a, discussion as to how it was that all of a sudden the tariff had been altered in an eccentric fashion. Several of the members declaimed against what had been done, as if they had been mere outsiders, and had been taken by surprise. They had to ask the chairman what were the reasons why the alterations had been made, and evidently were as much in the dark as any of the public. The chairman's answer was not very satisfactory His explanation was, "The committee had referred the matter to Mr. Brigham and himself, and Mr. Brigham, amongst other things, suggested this increased tariff on flour." This is letting the cat out of the bag with a vengeance. Here was one of the most important pieces of business which the Board has to deal with, namely, the rates to be levied on articles landed in the harbour, and the Board leave it to " the committee." How many were on that committee we do not know, or who they were, but it would seem that they took very little trouble in the matter, but simply handed it on to "Mr. Brigham and myself," the former not being even a member of the Board, and not being entitled in the least to have a say on the subject. But then it would seem that even the chairman does nothing. Mr. Brigham draws up the charges to be made, and they come into force. The chairman says that all the Board were acquainted with the facts, and that there was no attempt to "snatch a vote." As to the members being "thoroughly acquainted with the facts," that is contradicted by what the members have said outside the Board, and even at the meetings. We may say that we think it grossly unfair to the secretary to fix upon him the blame of attempting to impose obnoxious imposts upon shipping and upon the import of food. He cannot defend himself. Besides, to make him responsible in the public eye, belittles the members of the Board.

At all events, the history of this little matter proves our point, that the affairs of the Harbour Board have, suffered .greatly from the neglect of those intrusted with them. It may be found necessary, if the evil still continues, to have the constitution of the Board changed, so as to have less of the merely nominee element in it. But in the meantime an opportunity offers of showing public interest in the Board, in the election of three members by payers of harbour dues. All the men elected should be actively and directly in-

[ Crestedmshipping?TheCiT^ f and the other local bodies having? ? power of nomination may be J? tbf! .supply men to look after their int even as against any special i. T"K interests. The candidates at S* rbo «' sent time ai'e— E. W Ai" l6 re ' Bell, J. Groom, W. Gunson T ?V son, and C. V. Houghton, J? Alison, Henderson, and Ho UR h tn „ 1 those having the closest interest i T harbour, having the best oppo rtun y * of knowing what ought to be dor ! es the Board, and what staff is reaui,. , y do it. We do not, however, cat much to advocate any particular & E ° | or men, as to urge upon those enlS to vote that they should exercise tl privilege, and send members who v 'T take an interest in the business , would be a good thing if t| )0 ' stituency would get their repreJ?" tives to call them together occasional' to have explanations made resne.f J ' the business of the Board. C ln "