The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1902. THE HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 10, 13 January 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1902. THE HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION.

The nomination for the vacatcy on the 3arbour Board caused by the resigoaion of Mr, Kalfe closes at noon to-day. So far, alfhough several nanus have Jeen mentioned, only one candidate iaß publicly announced himself, namely Mr. G. ST. Ourtis, of Stratford. If Mr. Jurtis is elected he will make an ex:ellent member, and we doubt if the Stratford division of the harbour district can find anyone batter fitted for the position. Mr. Curtis ia one of the oldest residents of the Stratford district and has such large interests there that everything that concerns its interests and welfare closely concerns him. He has had considerable experience as a member of 100 l bodies, having eerved for a number of years as a member and chairman of the old Stratford Town Board, as a member o) the Stratford County Council, and is we believe, at the present time a mem ber of the Stratford Borough Counci and chairman of its finance commi'.tee Mr. Ourtis is a man of leisure and bai travelled all round the world making i careful study of local government elea where. His experience and eminently thoroughness and conscientiousnes should make him an excellent membe of the Harbour Board, particul arly just now, when experience am pound judgment are so much needed It would be a great misfortune at thi present juncture to have a membe: with extreme views returned. Ou local contemporary condemns Mr Ourti because he does not favour rushinj into a big borrowing scheme, and says —'' It would have been better if hi had stated distinctly on which side hi sympathies lie, so that the result c the present bye-election might givi some indicatioa of the feeling of thi Stratford County on this most import ant question." We say without fen: of coti tradietion that a candidate com ing forward on the ticket advocated bj the Herald, has not the sligbteit hop< of being returned. We have beer aocusid of neglecting the but-interest?

of the district; in not advocating loan' proposals. We say in reply that the district is not ripe for it, and such proposal!*, if brought forward now, would be indignantly rejected, and the ill feeling between town and country, which is' gradually dying away, fanned into flames, The fact is many people in New Plymouth seem unable to realise the strong feeling that exists outside the town, against a harbaur loan. At a meeting of the Farmers' Union at Ngaire on Friday evening, very strong opposition to a loan for Harbour works was shown, and Mr Ourtis not being considered sufficiently pronounced in his opposition, the chairman was instructed to interview Mr Taylor, of Ngaire, asking him to stand, failing bis consent, the Union to support Mr Curtis ; but the candidates must pledge themselves not to support a loan, unless sinctioned by the ratepayers. The Stratford Pqsl, also, after quoting our last article on the subject of the elections, says:— " If this means anything, it means that Stratford should return a member who

will support a harbour extension scheme. Both the New Plymouth papers are bent on carrying out fresh harbour works, and we warn the ratepayers agaiust being led a3tray by specious arguments about " progns*," "shipping facilities," and such like phrases. We intend to do our best to secure the return of a member strongly apposed to any more money being thrown into the sea at New Plymouth, ir any additional rates being placed on sountry ratepayers. When the nominations are in we shall give our best mpport to the gentleman who holds the strongest views agaiDst further expenditure on harbour works at prelent." This should satisfy any reasonible being that to launch loan prorogate until the whole scheme has been iarefully considered and discusssd is nadness and folly. In the meantime vp want the very best men obtainable ' m the Harbour Board, and every effort nade to make the bsst possible use of he funds available to give improved i acilities for shipping. >