HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 195, 16 August 1907, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

OF COMMERCE OMITTED.

The question of the Chamber of Commerce having direct representation on the Auckland Harbour Board was discussed yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the council of the Chamber. Mr. J. M. Mennie drew attention to the fact that in the Harbours Bill before the House the Chamber of Commerce ceased to have the right to representation on the Harbour Board. He. thought they should protest against that, for while it might be urged that shippers and mercantile men returned three members by election, still the Chamber represented a large body of members outside those circles.

Mr. Macfarlane said the. bill provided for one member for Raglan. Why should Raglan b≥ represented on the Auckland Harbour Board, when it had its own harbour to look after?

The president moved that telegrams be sent to the Minister for Marine, and to the Auckland members of the House, protesting against the Chamber not having direct representation on the Board.

Mr. G. Aickin seconded the motion. The Council should defend its privileges. While not objecting to country representation, the Chamber should see that it also was directly represented. He did not see why any district should be represented that had not a foreshore to its harbour.

Mr. Mennie said the Chamber really represented country people as well as those in town.

Mr. Aickin said no good reason had been given why the Chamber should be disfranchised.

The motion was then, adopted.