HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10231, 8 May 1911, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS.

CRJTJGISE" BY FARMERS.

AN UNFAIR POSITION

At the meeting of the Masterton branch of the Farmers' Union o:i Saturday last, the President (Mr J. C. McKillop) mentioned among other matters which affected the farmei the unfair position in which the rural community was placed in tlu matter of the recent Harbour Board elections. Mr J. C. Cooper urged that the question was one which should be discussed by the Provincial Conference. The' recent elections had been a ghastly and expensive Apart from the expense, however, there was the grossly unfair treatment which had been meted out to tie country districts. The franchise was altogether wrong. Tbey should either have the Parliamentary franchise, or something equal to it. He moved that it be a recommendation to the Provincial. Conference that tha question of Harbour Board elections be reviewed.

I In seconding the resolution, Mr j W. Perry said it would be interestI ing to know what the Wairarapa election had cost. It must have been enormous. Then there was the fact that some of the candidates were unknown to the bulk of the electors. He was personally of opinion that the, old system of electing 'the members .of Harbour Boards by I local bodies was the most satisfac- ! tory. ' "•■'': '''" "'■ ■ ',. The resolution waii carried.