MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD AGAINST POSTPONEMENT

The Wanganui Harbour Board is not in favour of the municipal and local body elections scheduled lor May of next year, being postponed till 1945, as suggested by the Otago Harbour Board.

On the motion of the chairman, Hon. W. J. Rogers, seconded by Mr. D. Sutherland (Fordell), the ‘board considered that the elections should be held on Lie statutory date. Mr. Rogers said he appreciated the Otago Harbour Board's views, but he felt that as it was the democratic right of the people to elect their local body representatives once in three years, this franchise saould be exercised. The general election was held recently and.it was only right that the local body elections snouid follow. The Otago Harbour Board stated that at a special meeting to discuss the estimates for the ensuing year, consideration was given to an item of £lOOO for the expenses of the election of members due in May next. It was considered that this expenditure, which tfvould be only a fraction of the expenses involved throughout the Dominion, was not w z arranted at the present time.

Because of prevailing war conditions during the past four years, the revenue of harbour boards in general had experienced a serious decline, necessitating a curtailment of expenditure on esential harbour works, ft was considered by the Otago Harbour Board that the £lOOO could more profitably be used for the provision of additional facilities for the quick despatch of ships.