HARBOUR BOARD FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 29 February 1916, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD FINANCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,— During the recent controversy about the allocation of the dock site, it was elicited that the revenue of the Board was rapidly shrinking, and probably due to the ■ far-reaching effects of the war. It is apparent ere long additional revenue will be required to keep the harbour improvements going, which are giving employment to a large number of men, and it would be suicidal to stop them at present. The question will be, how is this temporary revenue to be raised during the war period without further taxing imports. At Wellington there is a harbour improvement rate, and paid by the skip, without a murmur. Say an infinitesimal rate of 6d. or 1/ per ton on British and American oversea shipping would not be felt by it, owing to the yery high and lucrative rates of freight which it is enjoying inward and outward, which was verified by recent London cables as to shipping profits. If additional revenue is required, I think the suggestion would give it to keep the harbour improvements going.—l am, etc., P. VIRTUE.