The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1906. HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13015, 30 June 1906, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1906. HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

We must confess that at present we are to see what good*-is"'going to be derived from the decision reached by the Timanr'Harbonr Board yesterday* to" increase the representation of/the Waimate. and Levels counties.' Theoretically,, perhaps', there is something to • be i*aid for" the change, although even for the purposes of theory we have to assume that the members of the Board should be elected purely on the basis of the revenue-de-rived from the harbour rate, without allowing any representation for the s other sources of the Board's- income. However, the present system" of election has worked very satisfactorily, and has given good results, -and as it has the merit of sim-i plicity, it is probably just as well" to | continue it. In any case, there i> little hope, as far as we can see, of introducing changes in the coostitution of the Board, such as special representation for the shipping or commercial interests, which would tend to curtail the control of the country members over the port. They bold the key to the position in their superior numbers, and they are not likely to sanction 1 the promotion of" legislation whicfT will put mx>r^.power,int6- ■jof.-.tihe-town. As a matter of of t course, the'country is entitled tohbld the balance, of power, because the harbour baa been constructed sSth sofoney borrowed on the security rperty, and* in the past, as at the present day, members have done good work in improving the port, and keeping it abreast of our growing requirements. jßut when we admit all this, we can. see no very obvious advantage to be gained from r an increase in the overwhelming ma-1 country possesses otrthe "Boards^ vlliere- fid between > tbeJ 'dHsfcrlet!3s^i^ ofi^tbe'different 10--Board ia^o.be^lt^^'wh^ver^e.vajuar-l tiona happen to fluctuate, there fc likeJyl i s -. r \ * / t

to be a good deal of unnecessary uncertainty .and , confusion. We hope, how} ever, that the Bill -which is to be p«£ in<rt.ed. .-will. not give rise to endless changes of this sort, -and that any redistribution of seats which may be effected under it will afford permanent satisfaction to those members who are anxious to see ,tbe valuations represented on the Board in strictly mathematical proportion. We do not suppose the Bill will meet with much opposition because the public are hardly likely to take much interest in the p-int involved, and if they do, they can sc-ircely deny the logic which induced a ir„yority of the members to agree with' Mr Manchester's proposal. Mos;t of the ratepayers will probably agree with the chairman that there is equity in the cestion, but that there is nothing to gain in return for the expense of carrying itout. The present constitution of the Board :j_s brought together men who have put' South Canterbury in possession of a most successful artificial port, and judging from, the results achieved, there was no need to tbker with the basis of representation. The, visit of .the mammoth steamer now' in port is its own proof of the work that has been done in the past, and Mr Fraser's remarks at the function held to celebrate the arrival of the Atkenig are an indication" of the spirit which animates the whole community in regard to harbour, matters. If the enlarged Board manage thiags as well as their predecessors have > done, they will have reason enough fti fe*l satisfied with • themselves., * "