HARBOUR BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1904, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

,«v — THE SALARIES OF PILOTS. Tho Ilarboui Hoard meeting thi* afternoon was attended by Me&irs. Ui-auchamp (in tho chuii), Mothos, Wood, Fraher, W'diord, Danseil, Cubic. Nathan, and J? G. \V. \ilken. Leave of (ilmi-iico waJ girou Mr. N. Reid (Chairman). Tho position of the linunuei was leporti'd t-o be as follows :Curient account, credit balance, £8596 10 3 ; iuijncst nccount, credit balance, £062 ; on iixed deposit, £14,000. Payments for the month approved were — For interest, accounts, and w.igc.-j. £12,435 12s; for progre»i on eonlract.<., .C23WO ss ; for .salaries for January, £664 11s; total, £15.4'J0 11*. Tbo Chaiiman repwtcd that nine applications had Imjcii xeccived ior tho Mtuation of pilot, and hud been loferrcd by tho Wharves und Accounts Committee to the Harbourmaster and Secretary to rujiorfc upon to the Board-in-Corntntttee. -Mr. Wilford «iid ho noticed in the udwtttsument that the rate of pay was to Ijc £200 pr>r annum. He dc.^in.'d to publicly piotc.it »i;:tiii»t tln> iate of pay to harbour pilots in Wellington. Tho AetiiiK-Chaiiman said it was the cr..stom of the Hoard to d)>cu^s matters of Hilary in Committee, and it would be more desirable to defer the point till tho Board was in Committee. Mr. Wilford enid ho thought it a paltry and v moan thing- that wh v small salary s'hoiild bo jiaid by the Wellington Harbour Board for no importum a position. Ho mentioned that he had lx.en in communication with other jiorUs on this mbject. TII9 ActinK-Cliairumn moved thut the matter bo referred to the Bonnl in wommitltc Tho Kecivtary Aiid there wn.« an item on tho order pnper for eo:i.«idcration in Committee — n lecommendation to inctca.se the salary of pilots. Mr. Wilford, who wa.s at fust ruled out of oidor, moved an amendment that the applications bo not refenbd to the Bounl in Committee, on the ground that the ".salary paid to pilots hero was absolutely inadequate, 110 repealed his protest. In reply to a question, tho Secretary stated that tho salary of £200 was for v probationer. Tho two prcfeiit pilots got £250 each and tho chief pilot £450. Mr. Mot hen considered tho siilaiios of pilots wero not commensurate with the importance of tho position. In the- couise of the discussion the Acting Chairman said the Board only dciirod to do what wa.s right and fair by Hb st.aiT, but tho Wharves and Accounts Committee had anticipated .Mr. Wilford's point, am! had a lecommpiidntion to come on at the present meeting to increase those salaries, and tho matter would be duly considered in Committee. If that recommendation wos not carried it would then be opon for any member to lceord his protest. Several members oxprefscd tho opinion that thero appeared to bo a desire to ndftnt "Star Chamber" methods, but the Acting Chuhman assured tho Board that tht'vo was no desire whatever to bufk dibcussion. Ultimately Mr. Wilford consented to withdraw his amendment, and intimated that ho would givo notice of motion for next meeting on the linos ho had indicated. The Acting Chairman's motion was then carried. The Wharves and Accounts Committee recommended tho Board to call for tenders to leote thu land on Te Aro reclamation, about which tho Wellington Provincial Industrial Association hud made-e nquiries for exhibition purposes, for a period of twelve months from Ist April next, tho tenders to close nt the next Board meeting ; that the Chairman and Secretary wait upon the General Manager of Railways to protest against the suggestion made by him that if tho land adjacent to Customhouse-quay is not required for mil way purpo.ves the De« partinont' may lease \i fot other than 1 ail way purpose*. — Adopted H. N. Gallate wan gtantcd^ permission to transfer )ca*o of an oyster bed nt Evans Bay to P. Corick and M. Bubich, on certain conditions. The Board then went into Committee.

Thin afternoon a upoc'uil meeting of tho Harbour Board ww* hold to comply with tho regulations gazetted by the Govornor-in-CouncH for the election of members of Harbour Boards by rmycr* of dues. The Acting-Chairman stated th-'it a list had been made of all persona, tirms, or companies known t'j have paid to the Board £10 atei-lini; an] upwards during tho yoir 1903.4 Tho list had been duly advertised a-i being open for inspection, and no applications* had been received for additions to tho list or objection 1 ? made Io it. 11 h moved that the list bo njiprovid ;ipd bo signed by tho Chairman as the roll of electors for tho yen i" 1901. It wns explained, in answer to Mr. Wilford, tlmt llioi-t> vwis no phiral voting. TIIO ivolion v.i*< caiticd. Moelinj,'s of tho Cabinet aro Mill boinj hold daily, but up to tho yvensnt only dapaitmciitul matters huve Loon der.U with.