WANGANUI HARBOUR WORKS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 91, 17 April 1917, Page 11

WANGANUI HARBOUR WORKS

There was a long arid,at times warm, discussion at last Friday's meeting of the ;Wanganui Harbour Board on a proposal by Mr, W. •J. • Poison : "That, with tho exception of urgent repairs and. necessary maintenance, the harbour improvement works be 'suspended until, such time as a dredge is available; that the staff be reduced in accordance with the above, and that the chairman and the engineer report- to the board in what- direction tho reduction should be made." In the course of the discussion, Mr. Veitch, M P., denounced the motion as a pessimistic and retro; grade step, which would enable neighbouring harbours to get thoroughly established. One day the board increased the* wages of the men, and the next day talked -about closing dojgn. It was enough to drive . their Employees away. The board should "stick to its guns" as business men. The people did not elect the members to close down, at once until the next election came along. It would be a great pity, if the motion was carried. Such a move would be the weakness in the board's history. If they had all been wiped out at an election it would' have been the best thing that could have happened; He protested against the resolution. The people of Wanganui were far more in earnest than the members of the board, who felt their jobs were now secure for two years. They, should have come to the decision sooner. When the motion was put to the vote, it was found that the board was evenly divided, and the matter was deferred.