NEW PLYMOUTH HRRBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1903, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HRRBOUR BOARD REPRESENTATION.

(Bawera Star.) A meeting ef the Eltham branch of th • New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Athenaeum on F<id*y, 30th ultimo, There was a fairly representative muster. The business before the meeting was the question of souring fair representation on the New Plymouth Harbour Board. , The Secretary read a s'atemeat showing the rateable value and rate contributed by the Stratford and Hawera Wards. Valua'ion TU'.e Members 3s 8d ia the £ Stratfe d, £1,520 886 ... £2376 1 Hawe;a, £2.032,666 ... £3176 1 £5652 'i'artnaki V., £3O ),024 X Taranaki 6, £494,631 X Uliiton, £484,169 £4BIB 1 New Plymouth Borongh, £866 652 £10,371 1 If the members ween elected on a valuation bag's, Stratford and Hawera Wards are entitled to nearly five members instead of only two, the quata being £742,720 per member. The Harbour Board's income from all sources last year was as under: — £ Rate 8097 ktn't Kerenus 34'.7 Kndowoents 101.T v 12,831 Wharf dues 7610 Total £20.141 A very warm discussion followed on the unfairness of the representation accorded to this end of the district, the management ef the Board's business, and thj pe sonnel of the Boud, the latter with three exceptions b«Dg all North Taranaki men; and a strong feeling expressed that it was curious all interested at this end seemed to be unaware of the unfairness of the position, and that when the f*ots became geneially known there would be a general rally, a reference to Parliament for a proper readjustment of the wards. Finally the following resolu ion was passed: That in the opinion of this branch of the N.Z.F.U. the whole force of the Farmers' Union should be exerted to secure the necessary reform of mi entirely eleoSive New Plymouth Harbour Bowl, and a reidjus'ment of the wards on a valua'ion b«sis, so as to give just and equal representation to all parts of the Haibour Board district, A letter from the Egmont Village branch was read, containing the following resolution pissed by that branch: " That the Egmont Villsge branch consider! the time has arrived when the extension of the breakwater, New Plymouth, sheuld be proceeded with, ai d ■ some scheme devised whereby necessary funds cm be raieed for such exteusion."

In the discussion that followed, the opinions were expressed that as. this find was practically disfranchised we could not countenance any expenditure at all in any form, we suffering an injustice, aid if the Botrd had money to spend, they hid far better lower the harbour charges instead of keeping them up so high as at present; ale, the pr. per course to pursue would b > t) borrow sufficient miney to make a harbour that could be woik''d by oeean-going steamerc, as tbo district could not go on paying the present heavy coastal r*(es to Wellington on butter and cheese.

The following resolution was oarfied : —That whilst recognising that it is in the bett interests of the distriot that the New Plymouth harbour should be extended in the early future, this branch cannot endorsa any further expenditure in any shape er form until fair and just representation on a proper basis h given to all parts of the New Plymouth harbour dii'rict.