Harbour Improvements For Chathams

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31902, 1 February 1969, Page 1

Harbour Improvements For Chathams

(From Our Own Reporter) CHATHAM ISLANDS, January 31.

Harbour improvements which will enable crayfishing boats of up to 60ft to be slipped for survey and repairs at Waitangi should be completed by the end of 1970.

The Chatham Islands County Council has been given approval to raise a loan of $223,000 to improve the width of the present wharf, reclaim land and construct a slipway. The council has yet to raise the loan.

The Ministry of Works has supplied sketch plans of the proposed improvements but detailed drawings have yet to be completed. Tenders should be called this year. It is probable that the Ministry of Works will act as supervising engineers for the job. The task of the successful contractor in getting supplies to Waitangi will not be a short one.

The Secretary of Marine (Mr R. M. Kerr) made these points after more than 60 cray fishermen and representatives of some of the nine fish processing plants on the islands had questioned the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) at a meeting this afternoon. Wharfage Dues

The fishermen queried the levy of 4c a pound on crayfish tails imposed by the County Council to finance the loan for harbour improvements.

The levy has increased the wharfage dues paid by fishermen on crayfish tails being processed on the islands from $8 a ton (the wharfage import-export levy on all goods and fish except crays) to $B9 a ton. Several of the fishermen complained that they were being “forced to pay rates” without having a vote. Mr P. A. Smith, fisherman, farmer, hotel proprietor and former New Zealand Rugby League captain complained: “Taxation without representation is unconstitutional.” "No Benefits”

But he was advised by Mr Kerr, who presided at the meeting, to take the matter up with the county council. Mr J. Inkster, of Timaru, shareholder in one of the fish processing plants at Kaingaroa, on the north coast of the main island, said fishermen and those in the industry there would get no benefits from the improvements at Waitangi.

“Surely it would be fairer if the levy from crays landed at Kaingaroa was spent in improvements there,” Mr Inkster said. "The income tax paid by those in the industry on the Chathams would be sl.3m at least last year, and we contribute more than s4m to New Zealand’s overseas funds. “Drop In Bucket” “But the subsidy paid by the Government to the Chathams last year was only $60,000, a drop in the bucket. “Surely more of the taxes paid here should go back in to the islands and the industry here?” The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath): Taxes, provide many benefits for all New Zealanders. You cannot expect the taxes paid in any one district to go back into that district altogether. We all pay taxes—some of us feel, a damn sight too much.

Mr Inkster: We know taxes are used to pay the salaries of Ministers and schoolteachers and all that jazz. But surely some more could go to improve the Chathams? Mr Seath: Ministers pay tax on their salaries. Navigation Lights Another fisherman asked if navigation lights promised for the islands were to be put up by the Government—because this would mean the lights would be installed in three years at the earliest, when the cray industry would be finished. Mr Scott said that the main light at Durham Point would be installed within a month of two. The county council had been recommended to site a light on Weedy Point, above the Waitangi township, and the Marine Department would install lights at Kaingaroa and Pitt Island. The Government would service all the lights.