WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 492, 27 April 1909, Page 4

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Sir,-rFor a good many years after its inception this board consisted mainly of our staid, leading business men, and its progressive administration then earned: for it, not ' confidence alone, but it was regarded'by the citizens, and pointed to, as a model'for all local bodies. ! For reasons which' need not here bo discussed, this order of men are not i:o\v members, and their successors, outside of two, who aro kept, keenly alive to shipping interests, whilo all aro individually worthy men, yet in so far as mercantile knowledge, intimacy with port heeds or tho .'overlapping of commercial and shipping interests" are concerned,thoy- are .members of a nondescript order, to whom tho important: interests of the board only appeal very remotely. As is usual while a large expenditure is going 011, small complaint is, heard, or would bo listened to. Yet wo arc living in the board's minion loan era. Recently tho ,exchairman saw imperative need for extra dues, and tabled proposals which somehow havo never come on. This gentleman; has, liowover, meanwhile left tho Dominion, and so tho public is without thb explanation which lie could have afforded. Will Mr.. Wilford, the present chairman,, therefore say -whether the board is now creating a deficiency on.its ..working account, and what, in his opinion, will be the dues which will have to be levied so soon', as ho can : give the .'question his attention after the Mayoral eleotion? And, further, what will probably be tho amount of the board's debt three years hence, and tho further increase of port- charges; which will then be necessary? It would be'interesting if Mr. Wilford would reply before Wednesday.—l am, etc., : - .'A CITIZEN*. April 2G. . ." "