FROM THE PRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2432, 22 February 1909, Page 2

FROM THE PRESS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Not only from Hatvke’s Bay, but from practically all parts of the Dominion, are appeals being made for such an alteration of the law as " ill provide for a more rational constitution of harbor boards. Speaking on the general aspect of the subject first, it mity be remarked that in Gisborne and in Wellington, as in Napier, the hoards are so constituted as to make it practically impossible for them to represent the will of the people. Of the nine members constituting the Gisborne Harbor Board three are nominated. The people as a Avholc Lave no voice in their appointment. So Avith Napier. The people of 'Wellington have been a little Aviser than those of Napier and Gisborne, and Avould not tolerate three nominees. In Wellington only two are nominated out of fourteen members. At Gisborne and in Napier Avliat may bo called the Conservative party dominates tlie boards. Tho contrivances by which tho boards are constituted enable this party, although in the minority, to impose its will on the people. In Napier and in Gisborne tlie incubus of tho “country” provision is more onerous than in AVellington. In Gisborne, of tlie nine members, three, as already said, are nominated. Three ropresnt the County Council. Thus nine-tenths of the population can exercise through their representatives only three Azotes on the Board against six available to the other tenth. On the Napier Harbor Board there are sixteen members. Of this number three County Councils between them send seA r en members, the Government appoint three, and of the remaining six Napier elects three. Such a body as this cannot, does

not, never Avill, represent tho people of the rating district. —“Napier Telegraph.” NAPIER HARBOR BOARD. Some time ago Avhen avc stated that the country party had a majority on the Napier Harbor Board avc Avcro told by a country correspondent that ayo Avcro Avrong. Yesterday’s meeting of the board, hOAvcver, showed that avo Avere pcrfctly correct in our statement. ATr J. V. Brown Avas rc-eleet-cd Chairman, but apparently only because one country member Avas absout and another abstained from voting. These members, hoAvever, arc probably to bc< counted on by the country party for other purposes; and when the matter of fixing the rate comes on at the adjourned meeting we may anticipate that, if all are present, a reduction will bo carried. In other Avords, on yesterday’s voting we may coneludo that the majority of the" board Avill vote against further construction Avork being undertaken out of reA'enue.

AVe hope that avo may be mistaken, but that is what seems to us tojic the effect of yesterday’s division. Noav Ave take it that the harbor cannot ho alloAved to remain incomplete. It would be good business and good sense to complete it. And we believe that our country friends for the most part realise that. Air Jull has declared so publicly. So has Air A. H. Russell. Mr "E. J. Watt, Ave understand holds similar views. Now, we put it to these gentlemen that it. is not enough to take up a negative attitude. It is not enough to reject the policy Avith which the late board aa as identified. AVe shall look to these gentlemen to put forward a policy ol their oaaui. If they admit that the harbor must be completed, but object to the manner of completing it so fat put forward, it is iioav their turn to explain what scheme would satisfy them .—Hawke’s Bay “Herald.”