WHANGAREI HARBOUR

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17, 21 January 1933, Page 12

WHANGAREI HARBOUR

STRIKING OF PENNY RATEREPLY TO CRITICISM. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. A statement in reply to the criticisms levelled at the Whangarei Harbour Board by Maungatapere farmers, at a public meeting last week, and by the directors of the Maungatapere Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., was made yesterday by the chairman of the board, Mr. J. A. Finlayson. The Maungatapere protests were in connection with the board's proposal to levy a rate of one penny in the pound.

"I would like to stress," said Mr. Finlayson, "that the board has 110 intention whatever of using the money derived from- the rate for any other purpose than the paying of interest and sinking fund."

Mr. Finlayson 6aid that his policy, ever since he was first elected to the board, was to make the users pay for the harbour within reasonable limits. He said that he also made it clear, before the last election, that sooner than leave Kioreroa incomplete lie would be in favour of striking a rate to pay interest and sinking fund, so as to release ordinary revenue for expenditure 011 improvements.

"The board," continued Mr. Finlayson. "has authority under special Act to strike a rate of 1 3-Bd, but I do not anticipate that we will have to strike more than Id." As, however, the greater portion of the loan and sinking fund payments for this year has not been paid, and in view of the fact that the exchange rate has now been increased, the board would not be able to do with less.

Referring to the protest made by the Maungatapere Dairy Company directors, Mr. Finlayson added: "If they can show me or the board any better method we shall be pleased to listen to them."