Protest against Harbor Rate.

Patea Mail, 28 June 1882, Page 3

Protest against Harbor Rate.

The Farmers’ Club are - to meet next Saturday to discuss several matters of interest to this district. A lingering anxiety is felt by some farmers respect - ing the recent proposal of a district rate for a harbor loan. It is even suspected that the Harbor Board, or a majority of members, might get a borrowing bill introduced at Wellington, and that a harbor rate might receive parliamentary sanction before farmers in the district could be aware of it. Therefore it is desired . to pass some emphatic resolution at the' Farmers’ Glnb, condemning a harbor rate unless imposed by general consent of those who would have topay it.

It may be useful to point ont that no rating bill could be smuggled through Parliament in the quiet manner which some suppose to be possible. A Standing Order of the House requires that any bill containing a rating power over a district shall be notified by public advertisement in the district four consecutive weeks before, the bill can be proposed for second reading. It was this condition as to four weekly notices that defeated Mr Dale’s proposal fora borough rate to improve the harbor; that proposal being made; npar the end of last session, too late to admit of the necessary notices ; and it was the production of a telegram from Major Atkinson which settled all doubt on the point, and stopped the public meeting. It will be evident, therefore, that no section of the Harbor Board could get a rating bill slipped through Parliament. in a qniet manner; and we must say it would be monstrous if any local body could impose a special rate on a district in that clandestine manner, without; the consent of the district being first obtained through proper publicity and discussion . The Standing Order makes this impossible; so that if there were the will to do the deed, that deed could not be none in the dark.

One other security against surprise should be recognised, namely, that the member for Egmont district would not consent to take charge of a bill for rating his constituents unless he knew that their consent had been first obtained by public meetings called in the district.

If the Farmers’ Club wishes to place on record its opinion on the question of a harbor rate, that opinion would be a guide to the Harbor Board. It is clear that a district rate for harbor improvement cannot be reckoned as an available resource. WW the Harbor Board recognises that as a hard fact, there will be no more time lost in useless appeals. Other resources or expedients which are available will then be considered on their merits.