"A PERFECT PUZZLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6964, 2 November 1909, Page 6

"A PERFECT PUZZLE”

ABOUT HARBOUR BOARDS. HOW SHOULD THEIR MEMBERS BE ELECTED ? CHANGES INDICATED. A question of some importance to a large section of the community, that of direct mercantile representation on harbour boards, was discussed with the Minister of Marine, the Hon, J. A. Millar, by a deputation yesterday. Tim deputation consisted of members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, but ,-eally represented the views of the whole of the chambers in the Dominion ns expressed by tbe recent conference in ,Wellington. AVhat they bad come for, explained Mr W. G. Dnthde, the president of the chamber, was to remind tho Minister of a promise made by Sir Joseph Ward when a deputation from the conference had waited upon him. The Prime Minister had assured them that careful consideration 'would be given to their request that the Government, in compiling its new Harbours Act, would, retain the representation of chambers of commerce upon the boards. They hoped that, if it was not too late, the Government would be able to see its way to do this. It was felt that the commercial interests required some direct representation, a thing that could not he assured by any election by ratepayers. Chambers of commerce consisted of the business people of the community and it was considered that they should continue to have thsir direct representatives on tho boards.

BREACH OF FAITH?

It was urged by Mr G. Slurteliffe tbat the control of harbour boards should not practically be taken out of the hands of the commercial community. There was also a question as to how a in tho constitution of tho boards would affect the foreign bondholder, whose money had been used so freely in building up harbour works. It might quite possibly be taken as a breach of faith to change tho constitution without consultin# in any way those who'had lent their money for such purposes. This, he thought, was an important ’point, * and should hot be lost sight of. Mr .T. G. Harkness pointed out that tiie Wellington Harbour Board was today laying the foundations of a policy that wa.s going to hold good for the next twenty-five or thirty years. Tho question .to his mind was whether under such circumstances it was wise to make a. change and “swop horses while mossing the stream.” The Auckland Board was in the same position. 'Both had done good work in the past, and there seemed to him to be no necessity for such a radical constitutional change at present. A TRYING QUESTION.

“This is a question which has been hanging on for some considerable time, for about seven years,” said the Minister in his reply, “and I would be very glad indeed to get it out of the road.” Mr Millar intimated that the new Bill had been drawn, but not yet approved by Cabinet, so that he could not submit a copy for inspection or fully discuss it. I However, ho hoped to lay it before Parliament in a very short time. The great trouble about harbour boards was that there was such a wonderful divergence in their constitutions. At Auckland and Otago,there, was, for instance, absolutely no. country representation at all, but it seemed to him that the districts which supplied and ultimately paid those people who paid tho dues should have some reDTfgentati'on. (Hear, hear.) Then some boards, that at Lyttelton, notably, had been growing too umveildy owing to the constant addition of extra representation. Ho thought there would have to he some uniformity in the constitutions generally; something different all round was wanted, and his idea was ■ to try and bring such about. In the next place there was . a growing feeling throughout the country that all boards—hospital, harbour, and everything else —should be elective. ‘ There was no doubt about that. Certainly they were elected indirectly at the present time, but instead of having people nominated by local bodies to renreseut them, it was proposed that they should be made directly, elective. He could say at once that the Bill would contain provision for the payers of dues to have direct representation, so that by giving chambers of commerce a nominative as well ns an-elective one there would be a dual representation instituted.

"A CHINESE PUZZLE.” But dementis were now being made by so many different organisations for direct representation that be could not give both. They must take one thing or the other, but what would lie the best method lie did not know. He hod given a good deal of thought to it, but had found it a perfect Chinese puzzle. They could not give direct representation to every chamber in a large district unles there was some combination. He bad altered and realtered .the schedule of the Bill over and over again, and after the introduction of the measure be hoped to select some members -to go through it with him along the lines suggested by the late conference. What be wanted to see wasa really workable measure, and on© as truly representative as could be got. Ho realised the advantage of having busier''*) mm on the boards, and would keep that in view in any change be might moke. * The Government nomination was ]n - Smug to continue. When tho Bdl.was being dealt with by Cabinet ns would bear in mind what had been said, and seo what could be done about it.