LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 17, 17 October 1944, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FORTHCOMING INVESTIGATION

HARBOUR BOARDS CONCERN

When the secretary reported' at the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board that he had received from the Harbours 1

Association a letter intimating the Government's intention of investigating the wholer question of local body the chairman said that the outcome might be highly importsvnt to Whakatane. As a result of the discussion it was decided to call a con* ference of the smaller boardls operating on the East Coast.

Mr Boon went on to say that the control of the Whakatane as it was constituted at the present time, was to his mind eminently satisfactory and little or nothing' could lie. gained by bringing it under a new body such as either the ty or Borough Council. Travelling expenses -and the chairman's honorarium amounted only to £10.") 16f per annum which was the only economy that could be effected. He, considered the Board in every way esand any other local body endeavouring to control the harboui as a department could not be. cx pected to devote the same time and attention to its maintenance snd development. He considered the wiping out of the Board would be a retrograde step.

Mr Ruddick contended that the sound position of the Board's fmani ces today, was an obvious indication of the businesslike administration of it in the past. The reclaiming of land was one of the majpi activities of the Board.

Mr Mitchell observed that the VVhakatane Board was situated somewhat differently to other boards, and that it worked in close conjunction with the. County Council there being no individual officers apart from the body itself.

The following motion was then carried: "That in the interests of all ratepayers and port users, this Board is emphatic that the smallei Harbour Boards must retain the.ii separate, identities —that the Har bours' Association be advised ac cordingly—that Harbour Boards at Tauranga, Tokomaru Tolaga Bay and Wairoa be asked that if a meeting were called in the near future at Whakatane. to consider the Government's proposals dealing with local government investigation if ouch Boards would appoint, two representatives to attend such meeting —that if such meeting is agreed to that chairman and Mr Kent bt

'9 t the. Board's delegates to such."