THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 112, 4 February 1908, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

THE- DOCK SITE QUESTION.

THE BOARD AND ITS EMPLOYEES,

! INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS : - A , special meeting of the Harbour Hoard t■: • -iras 'hclil' yesterday ■ afternoon. Present:— rv.-w&Iho- Hon.- T.; K.. Macdonald, L.O. (Chair'man), Hon. 'T. W. Hislop, Messrs. T. M. \ Word, >M.P, W T Wood, MP, H. p;•■:■' Beaucbamp, G. ShirtclilTc, R. Fletcher, F: ; Townsond, and F. H. Fraser. J 'the dock site, ••.- _Mr. R. moved the .following rnoij lion, of which he had Riven notico^- —• That-ln vle*j of the altered position duo to,the adoption of the Evans Bay , reclamation soheme, ami to the intended t . purchase of the Patent Slip property, f • • - - the Board hereby resolves to rescind the ki:-v'-. resolution authorising the construction of the dock at Clyde Quay, and to havo . p : the' necessary steps taken l forthwith to » P i tt . seourc a more advantageous site In close Si : proximity to the Patent Slip in Evans .. , Ba *' l : -\The. mover said he had only brought this pv proposal forward after serious reflection, and • . ,he was sure that even those who disagreed jn.i>:r. .with-.-him;: vould'..gft'e him a fair hearing. ■ He admitted thnfc .it was no simplo matter [y, ■• ■to dismantle and remove such-a great work I'; 1 : -«3 a dock, even if only partly constructed, ks? > ' He had always maintained, that a dock was <*):■: ■ n necessity for a port like "Wellington, to 1 enable it to retain :its premier position, jDealing with ■ tbo' disadvantages of tho prcp. sent 1 site, ho said' it lay almost dircct nortli- !■; • : west and south-east. . The north-west was kethe prevailing.wind m.thotharbour,. and these ; -r.; ;.'/.gentle zephyrs'? r.usually , lasted; .three or four days.Consequently, vessels might havo to wait for rlays before entering or leaving 2«..-,tho. dock.,; Gentlemen bad only to go down ! and notice what sort of a sea there was j. ;t .■when a -nor'-wester was blowing. Again, p iii/.'.it would'be necessary to keep a dredgo con-, ii going outside the-dock to keep the v,- open. Soundings-, had lately ■ been |«;:v 'taken: just by. tho entrance-; of the dock, s:, where it hbd. been to tho dopth of ( : 42ft:; and tbero were-only 30ft. of water fewthere.-, -• That •< indicated -a very serious defect J of the site. ' | ' "ABSOLUTELY UNSUITABLE"

' • Again, there was; not sufficient land for the .necessary buildings and f appurtenances : .-around tho dock, which would come: close up 'to tho back'of tho To Aro Railway Station'. Ferguson,- in." his annual report,: had .stated that tho new Clyde Quay Wharf .tfOuld' t v' act as a screen or. breakwater from easterly :v winds and soa3 to tho graving dock 011- : trance. ; Norf-, if such a screen against , tho ; • ; easterly wmdswas dcsirablo,i ono ■from the : ■ north-west would ,bo far more , 'desirable. 'With two, such wharves tho dock would bo v.'.well{protected; bufcjwould> not be of much i; /.use.: Mr; Fletcher quoted from a Press 111<v terviqw with. Commander,- Dawson,- . It.N., . who stated, in 1003, that .tho To.\ArOisite,, ill r . his.opimon, was absolutelyunsuitable for a , ; graving dock;-, -AH, the captainsi-who camo a.-; into the port held tho samo ; vicw':, : sHc agreed - .with Mr. Ferguson^that-'moro'berthage and. . . . wharfage accommodation was needed, , and in his opinion .it.' would bo a pitv' to spoil the /r; :?.Tc . Aro foreshoro as a sito«foriadditional -. wharves.. Iho statements accompanying Mri Ferguson's report showed fhat £17,326 "Ms:, 7d. • had:- been spentVin 'connection'-with;;tho . . dockj, and'£lG,loo Gs. l lid. of/tjiis'was'for ~ v . drodgmg, leaving £.1171 3s.' Sd. for plant, ' "boring, • excavation, .and •. advertising,. etc. j 'vTho. £16,000 spent, on dredging would-,nbt; , ~,i he wasted;; because''ft would be fr.' for ■ extension of-wharfago accommodation. r» , \ THE»CONTRACTORS. /, _ - ?/£ ■i- -. ■It had been 'suggested tbat. tW/'-Bpard; l would, bo mulcted in a sum of about}'£2o,ooo,,. ■ •?::lwrway^jb^6mpei^i'tion ! to. the c,oiitfa'ctprs::' .. . Well,: ho liod seen Mr. M'Lcaii,.»who had fit;-':' laid-jjtbhji;• asijaptiblip : man-.and a>:co]onis't, : t :iVi:;Ke.;.ri^^s^?ilia^.tK^;]jresdnt['6it«^was.'!thi(ii ■ •wrong one, .and ho .would only, bd;too glad: .;,v ; to sec. tho Board change tho sito. 1 . Mr. Fraser: "Of course; he would like to ; , be relieved of his . coi-tract; • . Mr. Fletcher. , submitted- that- ,th'e arguments ho had used wore weighty ones, and should cause tho Board .to seriously* consider • ' the question'. \ - - 1 ■ ran EVANS BAY SITE ' •The small, spit. in'. Evans .BAy,'' clriso 'to Uhe' ■ Patent Slip,.seemed to him tho best site'for , r-.va dock; -. Others; better ' qualified than him-. self,- considered, it an ideal site'. 'Tho • spit ' - ' til el tared it from the .north-west,. and it-,was " * also" sheltered -.from ;the south-east, "so' that. ■ a ship, could' be, berthed 'theroVat' ii'ny.'time. . Just off tne, spit- there wore ialboius ~.' •, of .water, and a out' .'eight fathoms. ■ This was ample;: for the 'handling,,' of tho largest Bottom was. good and there would. bo lio silt-' ; ing up. .. Moreover; there was 'ample''land -at ',• & that' site ;fbr, the necessary works .and buildings. It had'; been urged that the' Union Company be : assisted and induced to, ;. -transfer its headquarters,-, to Wellington, v., He thought -dock 'facilities ./at Evans Bay / would be-tho-best way. of-doing this! 'If the ■ Slip were . purchased and facilities i givon to :: tho Union ; Company and other shipping companies, Evans Bay would become, as tho ;... Chairman had foretold, a hive, of'industry. That was thoj-'onljr locality 'wh'cro tho-indus- . tries of; Wellington' could expand. Tho reclamation- scheme''.had been' postponed,' but' ;•••• ' ho was still sanguine yenohgli to, believe that withiu; .ten,. perhaps five, Vyoar3, -they, . . -.would see a,'; largo reclamation! with' wharves, ■. docks, and industries there.. If the dock . wero placed closo,beside the-Patent Slip, and the: latter, purchased .by the 'Board, there , j would bo a- saving 'in working ; expenses in regard to tho staff.;, iHo 'brouglit. the, matter .;. up simply in th^-.. public'vin'tcrest;f 6r -tho s ' '{;<X. sake : :of; tho, progress of the-port," for, ;wliiclr ' ho was as anxious as anyone 'seateel at that. •! table. ■ : I. : The-.Hon. T. W. V Histo^seconded.-. the : motion, prp forma. ■ AN AMENDMENT. l-. v,; i Mr/ Wilford., moved" as "'an ,'amendraont" :rf!' ' That ihe secretary be: Instructed to - : ascertain: from 'the, contractors and ia- . port to the they ' ; ' are .willing' ;to' agree to the, cancellation \- ' of thelr ; . presont coritraoti 'what terms. ■< -The 'mover'':said,/that, vif; .Mr;: Fleitchor's ■ motion .were carried,'tho. Board' would! bo at '.tho mercy of, tbe;.cpntract : brs.'.;'Jt wbidd.be: • to .begjn. al.tlio, bp: ' most -unbusiiicsslikc^Jl^pr^ferr^'.iipt"'^ discuss 'Jb-. 'Fletcher's; arguments .on tho site ,:,.qucstion at present. 'Mr,; ShirtclifTo seconded tho . amendment. . iHe agreed; largely:'with.-Mr.' Fletcher's objections. to tho To Aro site,. but thought Mr. ' Fletcher had too far in asliing tho .. Board ,to bmd"itsolf .to',a fresh' sito- at Evans. . •'0 Bay. -An ongincer's report-bn thp suggested , .. was necessary before proceeding so. far.' -. Bay .'mighl n'ot; j)e' : ;tho. only -' alternative/ site"." If the present' contract ;■were, 11 terminated,, he thought reports should • bo obtained from !tho Board's' chgineer on all. p-is.sii.lo sites./ ,Be Questioned whether - .thfi Eyan.vßay site would afford ;amplo soa .: ; . HM'mj' and lie bflieved. that the north-west ,!;.,'• wind'.'.'.voiiM' strike, a vossel broadside ,on -wlmrt trying : to make . the" entrance 'of the .' ,do , . lie; thoushi. the ampndment'. should b, .:'ivd, an-J the, whole question gono V': ;-iv<)'',(le npvo;.

• AGAINST A DOCK. . ..'ieaiichrimp said.the:question of a d<(ck before- the,/Hoard.since-.1883. Mr. :- •">/(!-ioll,': C.E., reported in 1884 that tho iV!.-:.'iitiinatcly selected would be tho' best r-rtfcl'/i'iivthe >•hsirbou'r limits.' ' -Doubtless tho :/am'i3 ; -(sld' nor'-wester blew,'then,';and the /f'/.iV arguments, could .'have.'been ;adduced. 1:- seemed to him that the wind would be 'lust as much an objection to. wharves at, the same - site- as to, the dock A dock'.would only bo used by three oi four vessels in. a year! - He could scarcely eicdit, the statement as to tho. rapid silting'up of the harbour at that sito : , The opinion of Commander Dawson, a visitor, snpuld . not be taken too sciously. They had in favour of

tho present sito tho opinions of Sir. Napier Bell, and tho Board's engineor, Mr. Ferguson, who, after tlnj most careful investigation, recommended; the Clyde Quay sito. ■Ho had boon from tho-first opposed to tho construction of a graving dock at Wellington, and had only voted for it as part of a compromise. It ivonld mean a loss of £15,000 a- year,-and would have tho cflect of making Wellington the dearest, instead of tho cheapest, port in the Dominion. The docks at Auckland,, Port Chalmers, . and Lyttelton did not pay,-and'Auckland could stand such a loss hotter than Wellington, as its Harbour Board had more ondowments than any other Harbour Board in'the' Dominion, being worth £20,000 ft year, and increasing, while Wellington' had practically none. Auckland was losing £14,000 or Jt 15,000 a year on the Calliope - Dock) It would be a good thing for ; this port if .the wholo question of a graving dock could: bo hnng up for ten years. Tho ships did hot need it. Ho had only known;' in all his/experience, thrco or four ships outer : tliG harbour in distress, and they had all boon able to go elsewhere for repairs, Ho would support, the, amendment. Mr. Wood supported the amendment. He was one of thoso who had opposed tho buildjug of a dock in Wellington, because ho had :seon;' thot isuch;;,works ;at .other ports had ; causcd a loss, ; • Tho laud where tho dock was being built was "handed - over to the Board; lie believed, for tho purpose of tho dock, and il the sito was 'abandoned tho land might bo taken away by tho Government. Ho would bo guided entirely by the opinions of tho engineer. ■ - THE MAYOR'S VIEWS.' Tho Hon. T. W. Hislop said that apparently (ilio-land -at. Glydo'Quay would revert ,t'o. the Corporation, if not used for tbo purposo.of tho dock, although tho Corporation had received its compensation. This, of course, would bo very satisfactory from his point of view as Mayor. (Laughter.) It seemed to him thoy must decide first whether tho'j.dooiciW.as-ito.- bo--gti.no.,on. with, and then . jvhother tho present site was tho best. Mr. tyiltord : " But tho contractors would seo vour hand." ' ' x ■ Mr. Hislop: " They would not seo the wholo'of your hand. .£ We should not bo committed: to-make tho changes oven if wo decided that it was- prima facio desirable." Ho -was "not prepared to vot-o either for, tho motion :or tho,amendment, -but ho' was prepared to ask for further information; and ho thought that-, in view of the taking over of tho. Patont; Slip, it was desirable t-'o take the opinion of the Consulting Engineer, and "of. any 'other engineor : who might'be : selected.';' ;' - • : , . ' MOTION RULED' OUT OF ORDER.

Tho Chairman sait] ho knew of no resolution such as ;rofqrred to by Mr. Fletcher, " authorising the construction of the dock at Clydo.Quav. ' ' j , . Mr.'"liJotcheri sajd'ho.;'had taken it for granted tbat-th'ero must ,be such a resolution.-..' - »' > I ' » ■ Tho .'.Chairman said ho had gono into tho .matter, thoroughly;'and found that tho proceedings • that>had' been taken wero based upon agreements between tho Board and tho .-City.Council, which.-had.been'incorporated in legislation; vlfr )vas;impossiblo for tho Board to. rescind ithis.i.*'xHo theroforo' ruled, as Chairman, that Mr. Fletcher's motion could not' bo put,.' ,Ho : 'also..-ru'led, that , Mr. Wilford's ainendmeiit could'not bo put. ; V : Mr. Wilford said die jbowed to'tho ruling, but; bo put .-as; an'original. ;niptibh,'; .and ho ;would givo notice tt.do;-,so'.'at'tlie next nieetihg'. . ' The. Chairman, in?reply-'.t6 'questions, said, |the legislation he rcferrefl. to •as - fixing tho sito.;of tho dock ! was:*/*conipriscd.:'|in the '\Velltnt;ton Harbour. Board and Corporation Empowering: Act,\o 902.T1i0 Act cited tho conditions dock ,wa3 to bo' put there.-..tThe'., J B6artf '..'could ,not.<:ancel- a! piecoVof -legisldtion.' , Tho incident,: showed ■how .necessary'.'it i.jyas'; for members of tho Board :to" consider -the whole position. before giving notico of motion. 'If this ntdtion, had -bc-ou passed, tho Board' would have' been .made ridiculous in the eyes-of .'■tho' country, and all tho'-ot-hcr' Harbour Boards. . . " ( -

.SMKt'irietcher said ho did not : think yiinich of ;thd,;Legislature iti:';presite of the dock; < ■-T>lr.--jseaUchaiiip asked if .Mr. Fletcher wero [ti'-meirihcii 'of tho Board/wlieh - tho vcoiit'ract for [the', dock was let. , jJir. ?Fletcher said lie was, but it .would havo licfaii' useless :to protest '■ rftthat, .time, Thoi'Piitqiiit: Slip negoti'iitions and. tho'Evans ,Bay'"sc{lidme had altered', tho ; iHe noiy thought' Parliament might bo asked .to amend the' Act. -. ; ■: The subject; then drbppcd. ' OFFICIALS ; AT MEETINGS. " ' Mr'; Fletcher. briefly movod, in accordance .with notice,: —77 •„ , That,,;the.. secretary,;,engineer, ; wharf-.- / ingo'ri harbpur..-mastcr, < . ■ and" 'treasurer . I feo'-ih. attendances Vat all of-the. ' Wharves and Accounts Coriimittoo, aiid ' •iirafflll ordinary.-moetings of the Board. ' ■ ; This seconded ;by tho Hon. T. W. Hislop : ■ .. v ■ Mi'- Beaiichamp. opposed the motion' as ■unnecessary. --Tho* official's could bq : 'summonedl w^hoiv-reqiiired... . ; , ' , The motion was lost |on the voices.' THE BOApDIS EMPLOYEES. 1 . Mr. I'lctchcr -further ; moved, in pursuance of notice given:—; That an Appeal Committee lie formed; consisting* of-tho,secretary (who shall act, as I .ohaifma'tf and , harbour:' , ' master,,'.'jvharfiiigei'; .••engineer, and one delegate' elected by 'the permanent em- ' ployees'of tli9 Board, such, delegate to bo elected overy -second year. The Appehl Committee shall investigate : and deal with any complaint laid before it by, or. =• 011 behalf of, any of,'the employees. No ', employee shay bo'dismissed until .his case .has" been .coiisidqred by the Appeal .Com-

'< 'mitteo.'tho;absenco of any 0110 of '• • tho, four"; 'officers hi's' .'pla'co on the Committee is to be taken by the officer acting l.or )ii_m. :A deputy delegato is to bo, elected-biennially to toko tlio place of .vffia'-aeKgiitejdUfihg any.'inability to at'meeting.' meetings of the Appeal Committe,o.aroVtb ,be considered • ; *: :; : iafciiibers\ ; as .strictly confidential, ' arid'>U ;; cominuiiication.s ;from the Com-' ; mittee, either to the Board or to the em-. v '•pidyeM,-;»re\W.;]wi;;iiiade- through the socretary •', •' ' ihfmbviiig the above, said ! tiie;/.cliange;:Xbo.y,proposed,; woiild - bring, the ofnpia's,.. and the Board into closer-/t-ouch,",' .and in better scrvico being given. : ' "• • • Tbe>Hon..T. W.-.Hislop seconded tho motion pro 'formav:i He 'thought the Comjmitteo ; sboiild';iict.'consist solely of employees ol .tho. Board., :.'fho■■.Chairman, and perhaps another. mombei7.;should:;.si_t ■ 011 it. lio approved'ior merely/'suspending, and not dis.'missina::aH'ol!iployeo until his case had been ; considered iby the Committee."'. .. • ■ Mr. Wilford. said :lie objected to taking ■awayrtho/'iHglifc '• an' employee at ' once when' discovered 'income misdemeanour., "MAKING THE TAIL WAG THE/DOG." Mr. Shirtcliffe said r .tho resolution', would amount to making the tail wag the dog. It would be to devolve upon certain employees somo .of the functions: of the Wharves and Accounts Committee and th? Board; , Mr. Beanchamp said the chief ejjecutiva officoi' miist'/hdvp. power to dismiss a man w;ho' was," say,- caught pilfering. . Jhe nra.ployees, bad the right of appeal to the. wharves and Accounts Committee, and they had always been able to.obtain justice. 'He had iiot beard iyiytbing to the contrary from any of.them. The proposal was a retrograde one, anjl would destroy tho proper power of 'tho executive; ■' - . ' .

' Mr. in replying,' said that there was a great amouut ; of'dissatisfaction among the employees. Tho members of tho AVharves and' Accounts Committeo could not be expected to ■'understand the position as well as tho officials he had named in his motion. A man caught pilfering could be suspended at once, and tTie Committee could bo called togethor if required in live minutes. The motion was lost. . . further postponed; It-was intimated on, the order paper that slr. Ferguson's reports on the Queen's Wharf barricade and' the _ waiting-room and proposed baths for -waterside workers .would be Considered, but a point of order was Raised as to whether these subjects could lie taken at th(it meeting. The Chairman called for a vote, and a further postponement wis de.cidnd ' '. 'r