HARBOR BOARD ELECTIONS

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7782, 9 February 1891, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD ELECTIONS

PUBLIC MEETING. On Friday night the Lyttelton candidates for the position of representing the Borough of Lyttelton on the Harbor Board addressed the ratepayers of the port. <"' Mr S. R. Webb was voted to the chair, and there was a very fair attendance. Captain. T. McClatchik, the present member of the Board, on rising, said he was prepared to give them an account of his stewardship. He said he had been instrumental in getting the ballast lighters a place to clean inside the inner harbor instead of sending them to Corsair and Khodes' Bays. He was also the instigator of the shelter shed near (be watermen's steps, which is now a source of comfort to the laborers at Lyttelton. In this matter he had interviewed the different members of the Board, and had their assistance guaranteed to him, and in seven days from the presenting of the petition the grant for the shed was passed. For this matter he thought he deserved the. thanks of the public of the port. They had been for years crying to get the ehed erected, and it wat» due to his exertions that it was passed. (Applause.) In regard to the payment of extra wages to Messrs Carter and Twomey, at tho Heads, he had advocated the rise of wages, and represented to the. Board that those two men worked twenty-four hours. One man one day did sixteen hours, while the other did eight hours, and on the following day the positions were reversed. It was due to his showing and working amongst the members that those men got the increase of wages. (Applause.) He knew that those present knew of tne employment of the laborer in the sheds. The times had been troublesome, and he was one against the employment of the laborer through the labor bureau. He favored the employment of the laborer for the sheds', clear of the bureau, and in doing so said that the work done would be done satisfactorily ; he could guarantee it. (Applause). He had given them a history of. hie stewardship, and hoped that he had carried it out well. It was, however, for the ratepayers to decide, not him.. Mr Devereaux—Would you be in favor of the Harbor Board doing all the work on the wharves themselves ?

Captain T. McClatchie said the longer he was on the Board the less he liked it, and judging from what he had seen in connection with the Wellington Harbor Board's working, where they did everything themselves, he was. Mr Dkvkkbaux—Would you be in favor of having the stationmaster at Lyttelton sacked?

Captain T. McClatchie —He is a Government official.

Mr Devkrbaux — Why, he is doing everything against us. Captain T. McClatchie—You have my sympathies. Mr John Stinson was received with applause. He said he had not comet with any recommendation as their late member. The late member had done a good deal, but he might have done more. He might, during the strike, have got the Board to re-plank the No. 2 wharf, and given them some two months' work.

Captain T. McClatchie—Will you let mc explain ? Mr aTiNsoN (continuing) said ho did not interrupt Captain McClatchie when the latter was speaking. Ho added that he was a far better woricerthan a speaker., I and he hoped they would return hi.a. Mr Gso. JLaukenson, the new candidate, said he had no back hiatory in connection with the Board to bring forward to them, but it was as great a point to look forward. He had paid especial attention to the storage question, and he was of opinion that the working of the sheds could be done at a prone, and that a good margin per year could bo returned to the funds of the Board, instead of a deficit. The electric lighting was a great boon, and he wae uxaiusc patting it aside for the gas system, besides Che present dynamo would give sufficient power to light the town of Lyttelton. . Again, the bailors' Home was a lost. Last year there was * deficit of £S9, and the year before £150. He was in favor of making the Sailors' Home 1 pay working expenses, and not be kept going at the expense of the Board a funds. As it was it would be better shut up, as it interfered with private enterprise. He, however, did not wish it to be inferred that he found any fault with the masters of the Home ; they might be the best managers procuiable, but the fact remained the Home was not paying. Ha was also in favor of the Board loading and discharging all vessels that came to the Port. He was a new man, and he-thought new blood was wanted on the Board, lie had ambition, and one of hie aims was to sit on the Harbor Board. If elected he would do his best for the ratepayer* of the port. The speaker sat down amidst applause. Captain McClatchie then asked to be allowed to. answer Mr Stlnaon'a remarks re the No. 2 jetty, and also Mr Laurenson's re the Sailors' Home. In answer to the former he said that ever since he had been on the Board he had had that question brought op, and he had taken the Chairman and other members of the Board on to the wharf where steamers were working to show the necessity of widening it, and many of the members agreed with him that the wharf should be widened. He the Sailors' Home, he said he would remind them that the least* of the Home from the Government to the Harbor Board was a very stringent one, and the Board had no power to part with the lease to anyone; the moment they did so the whole place wan lost to thetn. Mr Laukknson said that; he did nob want to have the Home given away to anyone, bat fee was in favor of closing it if ft did not pay. The meeting, which was a very orderly one, closed after the usual vote of thanks to the chair."