THE HARBOR BILLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 216, 5 September 1908, Page 2

THE HARBOR BILLS.

OPUNAKE AND NEW PLYMOUTH. A GREAT BATTLE. , PASS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Press Association message published yesterday regarding the New Plymouth and Opunake Harbor Bills was somewhat confusing, in that it was stated in the lkst instance that after considerable discussion it was decided to postpone further considerition for a week to enable those in charge to confer with the Local Bills' Committee and afford an opportunity for further evidence to be submitted; whilst later on, it was stated that the New Plymouth Bill was committed. The following, taken from the Wellington Times explains the apparent ambiguity:— Tlie last day for local Bills was yesterday, and two hours in the afternoon went by in the Lower House without an inch of progress, for there was a buttle of rival harbors to be fought. Opunake, in the Taranaki district, wishes to establish a harbor boaTd witlh rating and borrowing powers, so that Opunake may become u port. But its northern neighbor, by dint of much

expense and difficulty, has provided a Mifc and well-equipped harbor, which 1 in the opinion of the New Plymouth people is quite sufficient for the district. There are certain obligations which the whole district, Opunako ineluded, undertook in connection with the New Plymouth harbor loans, and any lessening of the area inuans a certain amount of weakening of New Plymouth's position. The boundaries of tlhe new district were also in dispute. All this had to he threshed out while the Houai was in committee on local Bills, and no progress was made until 4.30, when the Premier suggested that the Local Bills Committee should again consider the measure, and also the loan Bill promoted by the New Plymouth Harhor Board, and that the Survey Department be consulted in regard to boundaries. The suggestion was immediately adopted, and the way made clear for eight other local measures. Later the Opunako and New Flymouth Himbor Board Empowering Bills were put tlirough their committee stages. The latter evoked some discussion over a suggested clause providing' for plural voting. It wiis explained that when the original loan was raised —and which it was proposed to extinguish by the new loan—plural voting was in force, and tliat for this special occasion the same system of votiug should apply. It was pointed out by Mr. Ell that,' the Local Bills Committee had been consistent in their attitude to all harbor board Bills in inserting the single voting principle, and they saw no rea--i"u for a dc|mrtnrc in this instance. I The Hon. Mr. McGowan pointed out that as there was a differential system of rating in vogue there should he a plui ral system of voting in this instance. There was no necessity to alter the system, seeing that the people Interested had agreed to it. Mr. Barber said if such were the <ase, and the whole matter had been

agreed to, tiliey might as well go home. There was no use their wasting their time on it. The House declared o:' division in favor of plural voting o?> this occasion by 33 to 20. When the words necessary to ai-liVye this came to be inserted a fui'tlir protest was. made by the single vol.' supporters, wdio, in order to emphasis, their protest, called for another division.

Tim Prime Minister pointed out that the members who were advocating the single voting could not discriminnltiel as_ to the special circumstances which existed as against the principle tlioyi were advocating. They did not seem to realise that their action would imqx>so a very great hardship upon a number of settlers in the Tarnnaki district. They either did not or would not, recognise the different conditions existing. Antecedent to the Bill coming to fJlie House, meetings had been* hold, and every one of them had insist eil on having the old form of plurn' voting, while the Harbor Hoard line' passed a resolution that unless it wni abb' to obtain this form of voting tlv Bill would be withdrawn. Tf they en deavored to run the genera! prinoipl down the throats of the people withou | friving consideration to the. special eh cumstances, they wo.ild find thomselvc in a very awkward predicament. • After a -number of further protest had been mad? another division \vi taken the result being i„ f„ VOl - '„ plurality by 34 to 23. Tile Bills wer evenlunlly reported, without nmend me-nts, and put through their fiiui stages.

CABLE NEWS

(By Oabla—Presß AssociaUon.-Copr« right.) r *V