The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "Te Ora Mota Iwi." TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1903.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 186, 2 June 1903, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "Te Ora Mota Iwi." TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1903.

An enquiry having been made as to the present position of the Motueka Wharf Board we may state that it was constituted by an Act amending the Nelson Harbor Board Act, 1900, which can be repealed at any time. If it is, and subject to no other provision being made, clause six of the Act of ] 900 will be operative. It is as follows : "The Motueka wharf, vith its assets and liabilities, is hereby vested in the [Nelson] Boaid." Such being the case the necessity of moving in the matter, as suggested at the "last meeting of the Borough Council by Or Thorp, is obvious The present constitution of the Motueka Wharf Board is not at all satisfactory to ratepayers and others resident on this side of the Bay. The wharf was built arid other improvements effected by means of a loan guaranteed by them ; by careful management regular payments of principal and interest have been made and a sufficient sum left to credit to extend the wharf and provide additional storage aceommoda tion without having to encroach on or hypothecate the annual legitimate revenue. Moreover, the debt is being gradually reduced and in the course of a few years it will be extinguished. Such being the case, it will be a thou sand pities if through inaction, or indiffer nee, the greater is allowed to absorb the smaller corpor&rion and we become once more a part and parent of the Nelson Harbor Board, which has lately borrowed a very large sum of money to undertake a work, the ultimate success of which is, to say the least, problematical ;an engagement entered into with ths sanction of ratepayers of the altered area, but not with our consent or appi-oval. The residents of Motueka and neighbouring districts are not only willing, but able to work out their own destiny in the direction of harbor and wharf management ; their desire to do so was demonstrated by the strong and emphatic protest made for separation when it was found their birthright was to be exchanged for a mess of pottage. It has been felt for some time past that an Act placing the Motueka Wharf Board on all fours with other Harbor Boards in the colony, endowed with borrowing and other powers, was absolutely necessary. That borrowing facilities are needed is proved by the fact that the

Wharf Board has a cjnsiderable area

of tidal flat which could be converted J into a valuable asset if the machinery ftodo so was provided. Our member, Mr Roderick McKenzie, recognises the unsatisfactory position and has promised, when the proper times comes, and he is backed up by a request from the proper authority, to introduce a Bill giving effect to the wishes of the settlers. The proper time has now arrived and we trust the deputation appointed to meet the member when he" visits Motueka will perfect all arrangements. The suggestion to make the Board an elective body will no doubt be discard. Personally, we have always advocated direct representation on all publicbodies, and we see no reason to alter the opinion expressed by us some twelve months ago. This opinion is also held by the majority in the ratepaying area, who, we are informed, are prepared to back up that opinion by attaching their names to a petition in favor of an elective body. We do not know of another publie'body in New Zealand, dealing with wharf and harbor affairs, which is entirely a nom'ina ted one, and it will be strange if the authorities refuse to recognise the undoubted rights of the ratepayers here to control their own affairs. If a Bill is introduced, and we believe it will be next session, any objection to an elective body may be overcome by the insertion of a clause declaring that members be elected by ratepayers say two years from the passing of the measure: