NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 November 1894, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board on Wednesday, two veryimportant matters were dealt with. The first was the question of the Board availing itself of the powers granted under the Act passed this last session of borrowing by way of overdraft to the extent of one year’s rate. This proviso was introduced into the Harbors Amendment Bill, as we understood, for the purpose of meeting any emergency that might arise whereby for the want of means to repair any extraordinary damage, great loss might ensue. At the present time the wharfage accommodation provided is not equal to lbs demands. The proprietors of the s.s. Kanieri applied for berthage, but it was not available, and the members of the Board who are principally interested in New Plymouth are naturally anxious- to give all the facilities possible for drawing trade to their port and town. To accomplish this end, they would apparently be prepared to go on with wharf extension out of revenue, and looked on the overdraft system as a means to that end. This should be resisted by the country generally. The motion, however, authorising an ovei draft was lost in the meantime, but we shall not be surprised to see the question revived, and ultimately carded. There is every probability that in the course of another year a reduction of the harbor rate to a halfpenny can be made, so long as new works are left alone, but we have every reason to believe that, so long as the majority of representation is confined to New Plymouth, there will bo very little chance of this desirable end being attained. The Government introduced a proviso into the Harbors Amendment Bill giving power to divide the district into wards, so that each ward would return its own representatives—ami this Board almost unanimously agreed in requesting the Government to make the proviso. Now, however, that the power has been granted to the Board, they, after a division, by five to three, declined to do so. They consider that the country has very little interest in the harbour, and that it is advisable that the control should remain in the hands,of the New Plymouth pcop’e. In one sense their supposition that the county has very little interest in the harbour is correct, as one part, viz., the district of Waimafe, which contributes nearly one-third of the Board’s rate revenue, through not being able to use it, are perfectly indifferent whether the sea should wash the whole structure away or not. But when it comes to having to pay an increased amount, by way of rates, for the purpose of allowing the New Plymouth folks to rile their hobby horse they get to have a very realistic interest in it. In the face of the action taken by the Board there is only one thing to ho done, and that is for (he country districts to take united action and form a league, so that whoa tho

general election comes round in March they can put up six men on their behalf, and, having the power in their own hands, they can return the six on a block vote, and by this means assume control of the breakwater and protect their own interests. We Would suggest that one should be chosen for Waitara and surrounding county, one for Inglewood, one for Stratford, two for Waimate, and one for Parihaka. Let these be selected in time, thoroughly canvassed for, and a block vote given for the six. By this means the country ratepayers would be able to protect themselves, and we think it more than, likely then that New Plymouth will call out for division into wards. If the three nominated members were nominated one from each ward, the ward system would prove thoroughly representative, but so long as New Plymouth can manage it, the only active interest they will permit outsiders to take m it is to pay their rates. That the country was not-satis-fied with the way things were worked was shown at the bye-election when Mr Maxwell was returned by such an overwhelming majority over the town representative, although in that instance every obstacle was thrown by the Board in the way opthe country candidate’s return. For instance, in the district of Waimate, where there were some 800 ratepayers, there was only one polling booth (at Manaia) established, and voters were expected to do, in some cases, a forty-mile journey, to the booth and home again, to register their votes. We can assure the Board that the country is going to be represented, and fully re-, presented too, and that failing wards being established the whole of the elected members will be returned from outside of New Plymouth district.