THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6759, 26 November 1884, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR. ; Sib,—The reports as published of the jneetingsbf the Harbor Board expose the ignorance of the members on matters which they might be expected to have some knowledge of. I refer to the discussion re doable shifts. It seems that the chairman had to inform them that the plant was deficient, and this was quite a revelation to some of them j yet every officer and man in the employ has known it all through the seven years’ work. But even the chairman himself would seem to be misinformed as to the hours the men work when he talks of them working from five to seven, and making thereby two hours extra. D.es he not know that, often for months together, the men on the tug boats work,' without any break for dinner, from seven to seven, and not infrequently longer, and the firemen cf these boats make twelve to fourteen hours a dpy? iThe whole of the plant, except the three dredges, is simply a pile of lumber—legacies of a highly-saocessful contractor, and of mismanagement by officials, backed by. interested vendors. Never was a committee put to better work than , the one now supposed to be laboriously diving into matters, bnt who will likely only just ask a few questions from, officials but little more informed tijan themselves, and report. Let Mr Barnes look up a few of these “pints.” Let the Committee get information from unofficial sources, and they will soon find that the errors of their predecessors, slightly varied perhaps, are being continued. The want of ?a , competent mechanical adviser for the engineer—call him by what name they like —is greatly felt, and the wages of snob a man would be saved on the coal and stores ednsnmed, to say nothing of the repairs which are now without any supervision except by the engineers in charge, some of whom are unskilled laborers. The Committee should also inquire bow these men cqme to be, placed in responsible positions, and what special qualifications each man has for the duty he has to perform. Then some strange disclosures would come to light. Seniority, competence, sobriety, and special knowledge should be taken into account in making appointments and preferments. With competent men and more suitable plant for conveyance of material, the Board cap safely calculate upon doing the work they have before them, and these two elements require adjustment.—l am, etc., Mack. Dunedin, November 26.