THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 7432, 30 January 1888, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held this afternoon; present—Messrs Ross (Chairman), Hislop, D. Reid, Barnes, Gourley, Mackerras, Law, J, B. Thomson, Wales, A. Thomson, and General Fulton. The Chairman said that the meeting was called to consider a memorandum, already published, from the Finance Committee in connection with a resolution carried on a motion by General Fulton. General Fulton said that he had not much to say so far as the capital account was concerned, but as regarded the revenue account things were not so satisfactory. The ordinary receipts for 1886 were set down at L 39,571, and for 1887 at L 39,937, which showed a slight increase; but he could not see how the estimate of L 44.000 for the present year was arrived at. He could not see how they would make more this year than last. As to expenditure they had, to start with, L 37.000 to pay for inte-

rest, and L 8,500 to pay for other expenses, making a total of L 45.500; while so far as he could make out, they would get only L 40.000 ; and how they were to meet that L 5,500 he could not understand. It was very unsatisfactory to think that all the revenue would amount to L 40,000, while the expenditure would amount to L 48,000. He thought, on the whole, that it would be better to refer the matter back to the Committee; and it would be good, perhaps, to add two other members of the Board to the Committee. Mr Reid had expressed himself in favor of adding the whole of the Works Committee to the Finance Committee for the consideration of this subject, but that would probably be too large an addition. Mr J. B. Thomson said he would have no objection to the suggestion, but at the same time he looked on it as one of the best exemplifications of the injudiciousness of a member moving a certain thing and not asking to be put on the committee appointed to consider it. General Fulton should have been a member of that committee. The report of the Finance Committee had evidently been drawn up with a great amount of care, and it showed a deficiency of LBOO ; still there was an increase in the revenue for last year, and therefore they were justified in anticipating a further increase this year. The Chairman remarked that as a matter of fact the revenue from all sources would amount to 1.44,600. He thought that the matter ought to be settled at once, for after one meeting more the present Board would be defunct.

Mr Gourley said that as Mr Thomson had no objection to an increase in the Finance Committee, and as General Fulton had always shown great interest in the affairs of the Board, he would be glad to move that the names of two members—say General Fulton and Mr A. Thomson—be associated with the Finance Committee to reconsider the matter. Mr Lanv seconded the motion.

Mr Mackerras said that he had no particular objection to the motion, except that it involved a great waste of time. When General Fulton brought forward his motion he himself had a motion that the matter be considered by a joint committee. The Finance Committee had held several meetings on the subject, and went into all the various matters. The Board’s meeting to deal with it had been adjourned once, on account of the absence ot General Fulton, the mover of the motion; and a second time at the special request of General Fulton, because he wanted to see some documents hearing on the matter. The Finance Committee had carefully considered the revenue and expenditure, and the latter they estimated at L45,40G, which showed a shortcoming of LSOO. But the Committee believed that the revenue came short of the estimate, and he thought the Board could come to no other conclusion than they had come to. How General Fulton made the expenditure out to be L 48,000, he did not know.

Mr Barnes said that he would oppose the motion for the referring back of the question.

Mr Rum said he could not see what would be gained by referring the matter back. Perhaps the question of salaries was one to be inquired into, but be deprecated the severe reduction of salaries of trustworthy officers, especially when their duties were becoming more onerous year by year. He would vote against the motion. Mr Wales spoke in favor of the motion. Mr J. B. Thomson said he could not vote for the motion, if only for his experience that public bodies on the eve of dissolution could not get a committee to take up a matter de novo.

Mr A. Thomson said he would support the motion that the matter be referred back to the Committee.

The Chairman thought that no advantage would arise from referring the matter back.

The motion was then put and lost by 6 votes to 5, the voting being as follows : Against: Messrs Mackerras, Reid, J. B. Thomson, Barnes, Hislop, and the chairman. For: Messrs Gourley, A. Thomson, Law, Fulton, and Wales. The motion for tho adoption of the report was carried by G to 4, Mr Gourley declining to vote.