HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143472, 20 April 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS.

On the same day that tho municipal elections take place a new Harbour Board will have to bo elected under tho urovisions of the Harbours Amendment Act of last session. There is some uncertainty as to tho qualification for voting*, Tho-rolls-to- be- used will- bo»

those of the various local governing bodies instead of the old harbour rating roll, ns formerly. Thus, those whoso names are on the list of 3lcctors for the borough of Now Plymouth and the town districts of Fitzroy and St. Aubyn will ■ be entitled to vote in the combined district, while those whoso names are on the Taranaki and Bgmont county rolls will be able to vote in that combined district. Wo gather, however, from the Act that though a ratepayer may have his name on the New Plymouth borough roll and also on the Fitzroy or St. Aubyn town district roll, ho will only bo entitled to ono vole. If, however, his name is on tho borough roll and tho Taranaki county roll, he will be able to vote in both districts; at least, wo road tho Act so. For the town and suburbs there are three candidates—Messrs. J, B. Connett, C. E, Bellringer, and D. K. Morrison—for two seats. Mr. Connett cannot bo spared at present, and there can be no question as to his re-election. The other two are both ardent supporters of harbour extension to give accommodation to ocean-going steamers. It' has been suggested of Mr. Morrison that his position os manage- of tho Freezing Works might cause him to defer unduly to .Mr. Connett, who is a director of tho works. We cannot, Irewovcr, attach any weight to that objection; in any case, Mr. Connott is so safe a man to follow in harbour matters that it might count as a virtue in a candidate to bo a thoroughgoing supporter of him. In other respects Mr. Morrison has qualifications which should fit him for tho position of a member of tho Board—and ho is always in tho vicinity of the harbour, which in itself is a good qualification. For tho Taranaki ami Egmont counties there are also threo candidates for two scats—Messrs, Newton King, E. Maxwell, and 11. Price, all old members of the Board. Mr. King may he regarded as assured of re-election, so that tho choice rests between the other two. Mr. Price was a Government nominee on tho Board for about ton years, and has always been a supporter of a progressive policy. Why his claims to the Government scat wore overlooked wo aro at a loss to understand; as senior nominee ho was entitled to first consideration. However, ho was passed over, and therefore offers himself to tho electors, whom ho has served in other capacities for a groat number of years. In fact, ho has, with two or three exceptions, a longer record of service on public bodies in Taranaki than any other man in the district, and it is a pardonable ambition on his part to wish to bo a member of the Harbour Board at tho time when the first direct steamer from Homo arrives at Moturoa. Mr. Maxwell has served his constituents well and faithfully, and no doubt the electors will find it difficult to make their choice. For Stratford and AVhangamomona counties Mr. M'Cluggago has been rc-clocted unopposed, as he. deserved to be. Mr. Wilkinson also is unopposed for tho boroughs of Inglewood, Stratford, and Eltliam. In the remainipg constituencies Air. Hughes opposes Mr. Wells, both retiring members, and Mr. Marx opposes Air. Swadling, both well known in their districts. Fortunately there is no question of town and country now,' and no question as to tho future policy of tho Board, all being for making tho port suitable for ocean-going steamers. Whatever selection is made tho Board will still have all tho elements of a bodv.bofitting tho importance of the work it has to carry Out.