LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 200, 30 August 1901, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR.

HARBOR BOARD DOES NOT FAVOR - CONFERENCE. •

At tho meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday tho letter from the Chamber of Commerce was read, asking the Board to take part in a conference for the recommending of a gentleman for nomination to the Legislative Council, as suggested by the Premier and Mr Carroll. Mr Macfarlane said that the Government had the power to appoint whoever they choose, and he did not know what the Board had to do in the matter. Mr Sievwright: I move that we decline to take any 1 part in the matter. Three members seconded the motion. “ Seconded in three places,” said the Chairman. Tho motion was carried, Mr Whinray dissenting. Mr Cooper : I was going to propose Mr Sievwright for the position, and he has set it on one side.

Captain Tucker said he did not see why they should not take some action in the matter, as asked.

The Mayor : It is too late now. Captain Tucker : Oh, no, we are all here. If the Premier and Mr Carroll said that they should suggest someone for nomination, he thought they should not leave themselves in the position of having it said that they would not give such assistance when asked to do so. Mr Matthewson : Let them make it an elective Upper House. The Chairman : And then we will have a say in it. Mr Sievwright said that the motion was not from any disrespect, but they said that the responsibility was with the Government, and should be taken by them. Captain Tucker said that from the motion it might be taken that they did not want an appointment made ; that seemed to him to be a mistake.

Mr Clark said that the Government would only accept any recommendation in the matter if it met with their own views ; if they recommended someone not approved of by the Government the suggestion would not be given effect to. Mr Whinray said he thought the Board would not be acting rightly if they did not fall in with the proposal of the Chamber of Commerce. That body had not desired to arrogate to itself the sole responsibility in this matter, and had therefore sought a conference which would enable the local bodies to jointly consider

the suggestion. Captain Tucker : I think we would be placing ourselves in a false position if we did not make some recommendation in view of that suggestion. Mr Cooper : I think we would be putting ourselves in a false position by taking the responsibility. If the Government are afraid

Captian Tucker : I do not think they are afraid, only they would rather nominate someone suitable to the people here. Mr Cooper: Let them give us an elective Upper House. Mr Whinray said he considered the suggestion had been made in deference to the people of this district. He thought the district, which had 180 miles of seaboard, probably the largest in New Zealand, was entitled to two members in the Legislative Council. At one time it did have tw-o members, but now had not one. The Conference could suggest two members. Captain Tucker: They could suggest the names of a dozen people if they liked. Mr Whinray said that if other bodies declined to ally themselves with this movement the Chamber could make a recommendation for what it was worth. Mr Clark : Next business. Captain Tucker said that he wished to hax’e it put on record that he altogether dissented from the motion. It had been dismissed so rapidly as to make it appear that it had been cut and dried beforehand. The nest business was then taken.