The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 786, 28 December 1876, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1876.

Judging from the correspondence which has appeared relative to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, public interest is excited to some degree in the election fixed for Monday next. This was naturally to be expected, when we consider the very large powers vested in the Board by the Act. It is therefore very necessary that in returning members to the Board who will have to exercise very extended functions, the electors should select the very best men —all the more so, because they retain their seats for three years. Hence, if a mistake be made in electing an unsuitable man, there is not, as in many cases, an opportunity of retrieving the error after one year. Fortunately, however, the candidates now before the public for election, both by the ratepayers of the city and the members of the Chamber of Commerce, are all men well qualified to serve the public on the Board. For the city, Messrs Wright, C. W. Turner, and Sawtell have been nominated. The first named of these gentlemen, from his profession, will bring to the Board an amount of practical knowledge which will be invaluable. Large works will have to be undertaken by the Board, and Mr Wright’s professional skill will be of great use in enabling the members to arrive at a correct estimate of the nature of the works to be carried out. Besides, Mr Wright is an independant man in more ways than one —he is connected with no party, and has leisure to devote to the duties of the office. We hope, therefore, that Mr Wright will be placed by the ratepayers on the Board. The other two gentlemen are sound business men, and either, if elected, will no doubt serve the ratepayers well. Mr. Sawtell has already done so in another capacity, and well. The candidates for the two seats at the disposal of the Chamber of Commerce are also good men. Indeed they are all so good that the members will have some little difficulty we should think in making a selection. A correspondent in this morning’s Press in criticising the various candidates raises an objection to Mr. Cunningham’s candidature. He does not do so on the ground of unfitness from want of business experience, but simply because he is the owner of a wharf. It is quite true, as put by “ Tararua,” that the control of all wharves and jetties will devolve upon the Board, and that they will have to fix the rate of wharfage, &c. But we cannot see how it is a disadvantage to have on the Board a gentleman who is practically acquainted with the working of wharves. On the contrary, Mr. Cunningham’s experience as a wharfinger will be of the greatest value to the Board. He has been able up to the present time to work his wharf as efficiently and at a cheaper rate than the Government. Now a gentleman who can from practical experience advise the Harbor Board as to how they can follow his example, and work the wharves and jetties placed under their control efficiently, and at the same time economically, appears to us to be a very desirable member. The majority of the candidates now before the public, though perhaps conversant in a superficial way so far as mercantile matters go with the management of wharves have no such experience to guide them. Hence it seems to us that the argument use by “Tararua” against Mr. Cunningham’s candidature is the very reason why the Chamber should return him. The insinuation that Mr. Cunningham would be biassed by his private interests, and would influence the whole of the other members, is so groundless as to need no refutation. Apart from the fact that we consider Mr. Cunningham above such a suspicion, it will be seen that it implies also that all the other members are open to be influenced and led by Mr. Cunningham in the direction of his private interests as opposed to those of the public. Such an idea is utterly puerile, and the whole of the objections raised in the letter referred to seem to us purely imaginary. The advantage to the public, we take it, of Mr. Cun-

ninghara’s advice and experience on a very important matter is far too great to be cast aside on account of mere mythical and shadowy implications of interested motives. We hope to see both Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Wright members of the Board, as we believe their counsels will be of infinite value. The work to be carried out by the Board involves a large expenditure, and the making or marring of Lyttelton as a port. It behoves us therefore to see that the very best men are returned —men who from their associations will bring to the Board practical skill and knowledge. Such are the gentlemen we have alluded to, and therefore we, in the interests of the public, trust to see them elected.