The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1902. HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 7, 9 January 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1902. HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION.

There is no doubt but that ratepayers in every portion of the New Hlymouth Harbour District will regret the ruination of Mr P. P. Ralfe as a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board Mr Ralfe has represented the Stratford division of the harbour district ever since the district was divided into wards, and has always retaiced .the confidence of his constituents. As a member of the Baard, Mr Ralfe has been most painstaking and consistent, very regular in his attendance, and throughout his long period of service has enjoyed the respect, esteem, and confidence of all his fellow members. Mr Ralfe is a member who will be very hard to replace, and it is greatly to be regretted that ho should have retired from the Boaid just now. The Board ba3 undoubtedly arrived at a very critical period which will need the utmost care and attention on the pirt of the members, a period when the ability, experience, and calm judgment undoubtedly possessed by Mr Ralfe in a marked degree would ha,ve been found most useful. .Mr Ralfe's resignation throws a very heavy-responsibility on the shoulders cf the ratepayers of the: Stratford ward, and much will depblji] on the manner in which thoy act on this occasiou. . Doling, the past ten years the population of the harbour district has increased very rapidly, the area of settlement his euormous'y ex-: tended, and the exports of farm and dairy produce have become so large that tho shipping facilities are taxed to their fullest extent. So much pressure is being brought to bear on the Hiroour Board to provide increased facilities for the more economical handling j and shipment of dairy produce—the mainstay of Taranaki—that they cinnot, in justice to the producers, afford to ignore it. Matters ara at that stage when either increased facilities must be provided for the growing trade or the production restricted. How the problem is to be solved has fco be faced by the Harbour Board without delay, unless the prosperity of the district is to seriously retarded. It will be seen, therefore, how important it is to Taranaki as a whole that the Stratford ward should return a man of ability and sound judgment to assist the Board at this juncture. In the past Stratford has been noted for its progressive character, and its future progress undoubtedly depends very greatly on every facility being provided for tbe development of the very large import and export tradeof which it is thecentre. The extension of railway facilities will' make it more and more tbe great inland depot of Taranaki; but unless shipping facilities are provided to keep pace with its rapidly growing trade, the progress of the town of Stratford and the extensive district of which it j is the centre will be seriously hindered.! | In selecting a candidate for the vacant seat, we trust the Stratford electors will keep these facts in view, and return a member, wbo, free from all the old difficulties which have surrounded the Board in the pist, will aim at securing a port that will give to Taranaki the benefits enjoyed by many less highly favoured districts—direct ship- j for its dairy and farm produce.