Municipal and Harbor Board Franchise.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8257, 25 May 1895, Page 2

Municipal and Harbor Board Franchise.

Wellington, May 24. A deputation from the Oarrier'i Uoion waited upon the Premier, urging an extended franchise in the eleotiODß of members of Harbor Boards and City Councils. The Premier, in reply, laid that so far ag he was aware the powers conferred by Ael of Parliament on harbor Boards has btsn judiciously administered. Mi i-.tera ssrutinissi very oloeely the actions of their appoi- teee aid had no fault to find with thsm. He considered that the deputation bad reason to aEk tbat those it represented BkouH have representation on the BoarJ. Ta9 quetti n was one of widening the franobise. At present the affairs of munioipa itiea and of Ha>bor Boards were io the h«ndi of a comparatively small number of. the people, and thousands of perto b who were really rat- • Ptyera »er« not on the municipal rolls, and wer« consequently debarred from having a iay in lor-ftl goTMomant. Wih a view to oqrriOt thia injuetioe the Government intended next session to again introduO9 »he MuniopsHua Amendment Bill. Tne widening of tbt franchise was a qnes;ion for coniideration by tha people th iDßelvcs, and thertfore he wo aid Bu t geat that the memtero of the

deputation should approach their oily mem' bets and eek them tq_ EUpport the Government measure. The Premier inclined, to believe that tbe Harbor Board Seoretary would not permit favoritism regarding carrier* on tbe wharf, but perhaps an injaaiioe bad been committed by subordinate officers, and he added that the Government had found tyrannies bad been committed in its departments by officials upon janiore- He had dealt with cages of that kind in snoh a manner as to warrant him in believing tbey wooli not be repeated.