HARBOUR BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1939, Page 10

HARBOUR BOARD

SOCIAL FUNCTION

DEVELOPMENT OF PORT

TRIBUTES PAID

As is' the board's custom after the final meeting before Christmas, the Wellington Harbour Board entertained its executive officers and a number of other guests at a social gathering held on Thursday last night. Those present included Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, Mr. G. H. Meadmore, Commissioner-General of the United Kingdom Court at the Fx- • hibition, Mr. T. R. Toovey, representative of the Port of London Authority, Dr. G. H. Scholefield, librarian, General Assembly Library, Mr. C. G. Collins, Auditor-General, and Messrs. J. F. B. Stevenson and P. M. Hanna, representing the board's solicitors and bankers. Tributes were paid to the board's administration and the progress of the port. i The guests were welcomed by the chairman, Mr. M. A. Eliott. HISTORY.OF THE BOARD. Mr. T.- R. Barrer, a former chairman of the board, in proposing the toast Of "The Port and Province," dealt with the early history of the board and the development of the port. He said that the port in the early days had been almost like an unwanted child. The advocacy for the setting up of the board was due largely to the Chamber of Commerce of the time which interested Sir George Grey in the matter and he brought into being the board, not as they had it today according to representation, but almost so. That was nearly 59 years ago. At that time the board was in the unusual position of having' no revenue-producing endowments, nor were any set aside, except one, and that was transferred to the Government later and was now the site of the present Government Printing Office. In return the board received Waterloo Quay, on the upkeep of which the board had spent large sums. When the board came into being its financial straits were such that it did not have sufficient money to pay the advertising costs of the meetings. The board's functions as a board were the fullest of any body south of the Line in administering the port; that was- to say, the board undertook the full duties of wharfinger. It took the goods from the ships' slings and delivered them to the importer or indentor. That involved the employment of a large staff, who enjoyed special ,insurance and superannuation provisions. In the history of local bodies it would be difficult to nominate a body with such a splendid healthy resourcefulness as that enjoyed by the board. That was due largely to the fact that the board had been well directed and well guided by its members as well as by its engineers and management. In addition to the fine harbour, the port had all the facilities necessary for the increased production which was essential to the welfare of the Dominion. Mr. W. L. Fitzherbert, a senior member of the board, who joined with Mr. Barrer in proposing the toast, said he felt that the port included also the city and the province, the port being the father, the city the mother, and the province the child. He 'referred to the wonderful progress made by each and to the achievements of the moneers. expressing the view that it was the province chiefly that had ensured the prosperity of the city and the port. SOUND FINANCES. "There is no doubt that the excellent financial position enjoyed by this board today is due mainly to the foundations laid by the early pioneers of this board," said Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., replying to the toast. "I doubt whether there is any local body in the Southern Hemisphere that is in a better financial position than the Wellington Harbour Board." The board had a capital asset of over three millions and a loan indebtedness of about £412,000. A point that was often overlooked was that the board had never been a profit-making concern. Practically the whole of its revenue went back into the development of the port. It had also been one of the vital factors in the development of the city. Today the board was the second largest direct employer in Wellington and there was no doubt that the board's staff was deserving of the highest praise. Mr. J. W. Andrews, who also replied to, the toast, dealt with the early history of the port and province and expressed the hope that when the memorial to the pioneers who founded the district was opened on the Petone foreshore there would be a large attendance. Proposing the toasts of "The Members of the Wellington Harbour Board" Mr. Collins said that there was evidence without using figures of the calibre of the members of the board throughout its existence. Tne sound financial position of the board, its up-to-date facilities, its high prestige, and its wealth of assets were evidence that Wellington had been extremely fortunate in having always as members of the Harbour Board men of progressive ideas and with a pride in- maintaining the supremacy of the city. Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson and Mr. P. M. Hanna supported the toast. "I think it is a compliment to the board that the Auditor-General, its solicitor, and banker should be here," said Mr. W. H. Price, replying to the toast. "It shows they have little fault to find with the management of the board's affairs." Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., said ne was sure every member of the board was imbued with a strong sense of public duty. It was a pleasure to serve with them. Mr. W. Appleton, who proposed the toast of the staff, said that a good executive was very like a good wife. The board had been blessed with particularly capable men and, as a good wife could manage her husband, he thought the executive had been able to manage the board. - Mr. H. Morrison also paid tribute to the staff. The General Manager, Mr. A. G. Barnett, and Captain M. P. Congdon! traffic manager, replied. The toast of the Press was proposed by I.lessrs. J. O. Johnson and G. London, and that of the chairman and the guests by Mr. Barrer. Sir Harry Batterbee, Mr. Meadmore, Mr. Toovey, and Dr. Scholefield briefly addressed the gathering, which concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."