FUSION OF HARBOUR BOARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1933, Page 4

FUSION OF HARBOUR BOARDS.

The discussion by the Taranaki County Council on Monday upon the suggested amalgamation of the harbour authorities in the province of Taranaki was very interesting. Tha council’s opinion that the whole matter should be referred to a special commission is certain to meet with criticism, but it will be agreed generally that the opinion confirms the need for that early overhaul of the local government system which the Government has talked about a good deal without doing much else. The Taranaki County Council’s proposal was very farreaching. Under it harbour loans and authorities would be amalgamated, and the whole of the province made an area over which a flat harbour rate would be charged. The immediate cause of the council’s suggestion was what it considers the unfair incidence of the New Plymouth harbour rate. As events have turned out the rate does bear with greater weight upon some districts than upon others. Nevertheless, even the most heavily rated districts have received benefits from the establishment of a deep sea port which far outweigh in pounds, shillings and pence the amount they have paid, or are likely io be called upon to pay, in harbour rates. That is the first consideration. The second is that the incidence of rating was agreed to by all concerned, and its amendment must also be by agreement. Otherwise there would be a breach of faith with districts that accepted certain liabilities when loans for the harbour construction were being arranged. There can be no argument about this. If settlers can be convinced that a fresh deal is fairer to them and to their fellow settlers well and good, but there should be no question of compulsion. Then, again, whether amalgamation of the services and liabilities at all the ports would be in the interests of the province as a whole has yet to be determined. Fuller use of the port of New Plymouth rather than of outside ports can certainly be supported even by users of river ports, and arrangements for this need not involve the larger question of a single rating area for the whole province. Amalgamation bristles with difficulties, but the Taranaki County Council is to be commended for opening a discussion which may bring nearer the general inquiry into the local government system.