The New Plymouth Harbor Rate.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 11 January 1895, Page 2

The New Plymouth Harbor Rate.

(Egmont Post.) The Opunake circular on the Taranaki Harbor Kate meets wdlh our support as it gives expression to a very just demand. It is au admitted axiom in economics that there should be no taxation without representation, though to learn the fact England lost the United States and several millions of money. In Taranaki we have an instance of what caa be done, aud is being done, by a body composed on lines other than fair ones to the districts that are interested by reason of the demands made on their pockets. In this House last session, New Plymouth’s tutelar deity, Mr E. M. Smith, boasted that the Taranaki Harbor Board has now revenue enough to pay the interest on its loans, and tho house cheered him, and hoped to goodness this xvould continue to be the case. Mr Smith believed it would be possible next year to reduce the rate. This now stands at fd., but could be reduced to £d., if things were under the control of a Board on which the districts who receive absolutely no benefit were properly represented. One of the acts passed last session of Parliament is the Harbors Act Amendment, intended to do two things—to increase the borrowing powers ta the same extent as those possessed by Borongh Councils, and to divide the rating districts into wards. The Taranaki Board with avidity took full advantage of the borrowing powers granted them by getting an overdraft of £4OO, which they are using to tinker aw’ay at the harbor works. We arc not prepared to utterly condemn* these famous ivorks, but we would point out that its chief use as a butter grading port has not been recognised by the Government, which we have already in a previous issue contended is an injustice to so large a dairying district —if the harbor is a success at all. The second main provision of the Act of 1894 is that of dividing districts into wards, but the subdivision can only be accomplished by the Goveruor-iu-Couu-cil after a special resolution of the Board. This they have refused to pass. The position is a most unsatisfactory one, and we trust the attempt now made to secure justice will succeed. If the ratepayers adopt the idea of voting for the “ ticket ” which will insist on the subdivision into wards, immediately, we may have some confidence that the rate will be reduced, and a very careful eye kept on tho expenditure. If the NewPlymouth people know that the milch cow down this way can be still further drained, the £4OO overdraft will not last long, and the temptation of being able to borrow up to the full amount of their ordinary income may induce them to raise the rate to the full amount. Tho matter requires energetic working up by canvassing aud public mootings.