HARBOUR BOARDS' ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11635, 12 August 1905, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARDS' ASSOCIATION.

Annual Conferences

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 11.

At the Harbour Board's Conference today, the question of whether the election of members of Harbour Boards should be by the franchise came up again in the form of the following motion by Mr Witty (Lyttelton Board) :— "That this meeting is of opinion that members of Harbour Boards should be elected by ratepayers in counties and from the municipal franchise roll in boroughs and cities, all ex-officio and nominated members to be done away with except those nominated by the Governor-in-Council.

Mr Ferguson (Wellington) pointed out th© difficulties that would meet th© Wellington Board. One of its members was elected .by eight counties and four boroughs. How 'was it 'possible to hold such an election? It could not be done on a county election day. .The cost of an election would be enormous. If the motion was carried the class* of representatives at present constituting^the Boards would deteriorate. Agitators anxious to get into public life and having no commercial experience would be returned. He agreed that where there was taxation there should be representation. The present system had worked very well all over the colony.

Mr Lysner (Gisborne) said this difficulty had ,arisen through there being two classes of "Boards in the colony — one with taxing powers and one without. " He moved as an amendment: "That the last words of th© motion, 'with thff exception of those nominated by the Government,' so far as they applied to Boards levying their own rates be eliminated." The amendment was seconded by Mr Witty, and on. being put was lost on the voices.