HARBOUR BOARDS CONFER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 25, 17 November 1944, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARDS CONFER

BAY OF PLENTY & EAST COAST

SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A special meeting of the smaller Harbour Boards of the* Bay of Plenty and East Coast, which was convened by the Whakatane Board took place last Tuesday and was attended! by delegates from Tauranga Wairoa and Whakatane. Mr W. R. Boon presided and a full and useful discussion, on questions to be raised be'fore the Government Select Committee which is to examine all phases of local control took placev

It was the. general feeling that the present system should . remain undisturbed and that Harbour Boards which were carrying out a good and efficient system should remain intact to carry out their respective spheres of operation. The question of whether or not the Government was- wise in seeking to go into the question of local body administration and control at a juncture, when the whole of. the country's interests should be devoted towards rehabilitating the men returning from overseas Avas a point raised by Mr J. M. Taylor of the Wairoa Board, who declared the. move somewhat out of season. Under all the existing circumstances he said to ask local bodies to agree to an attempt to remodel their- system and administration Avas most inopportune and had not "been requested by the general public. The i'olloAving resolutions Avere unanimously carried and Avill be submitted to the Haroour Boards Association as the basis of evidence of the Boards concerned in connection Avith the investigatory committee:— (a) That present system of Harbour Board Local Government remain . (b) That the existing local legislation and Local Body Acts provide sufficient machinery for any amalgamations, transfers, mergers or adjustments of boundaries but it is the opinion of this conference that any such adjustments etc. should only be given effect to when authorised by a ratepayers' poll.

(c) That Harbours' Association be asked to contact, other Local Authority Associations with a view to presenting a united front of opposition to the introduction of local government (Amalgamation Schemes) 1937 Bill until peace has, been restored and the urgent work of rehabilitation finished. (d) That the present method of providing Harbour Board finance remain. (e) That. Government provide a scheme whereby Local Bodies could borrow money for capital improvements at cost principal to be repaid out of revenue. (f) That the working overdrafts— with present restrictions —of local authorities be financed by the Reserve Bank at cost. (g) That the legislation which permits local authority employees to sit on the local authority which employs them be. abolished. (h) That the rural ratepayer franchise be re-established.

(i) That in place of. the present method, universal postal voting be. adopted.

(j) That, all members of Harbour Boards be elected by popular vote.

(k) That no change be made in the present system whexeunder payers of harbour dues and shipowners have no representation on smaller Harbour Boards.

(1) That Harbour Board chairman be elected by Harbour Boards annually.

(m) That present restrictions applying to members contracting or trading with the local authority of which they are members 9 remain. (n) That additional to present mileage £1 Is per day be paid members for' meeting attendance puis net living expenses should it be necessary for any member to reside on any occasion away from home. (o) That it be a request to i\\e Harbours' Association that a representative of the smaller Harbour Boards be appointed to the commission which has recently been set up to consider and report on sea coastwise and rail freights.

(p) That it be a to the Minister of Transport to consider granting to Harbour Boards the same facilities for attendance and examination of transport goods license, applicants—route services—a& enjoyed by the New Zealand Railways, at meetings of the Transport Licensing Authorities.