HARBOR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD

Tho monthly mseting of the Harbor Board was held last evening and attended by Messrs H. T,. Tapley (chairman), N. Galbraith, J. M'Donald, J. M. Dickson, 'M.P., E. Roberts,'W. Wilkinson, H. E. Moller, H. C. Campbell, A. Cable, T. H. Russell, D. Larnach, J. Loudon, T. Seollay, and J. S. Douglas. The "bank-book showed a credit balance of £3,728 3s lid. ST. CLAIR BEACH GROYNES. The Standing Committee recommended with respect to the letter from the Ocean Beach Domain Board asking if the board would undertake the work of erecting groynes, thaf tiho board offer to lend the plant only, in accordant with the engineer's recommendation, .bnt at a peppercorn rental, subject to satisfactory guarantee for the return of the plant in good order, and the board being safeguarded against any liability. This was agreed to on the motion of Mr Galbraith. SALARIES AND WAGES. The Standing Committee recommended (a) that the report of tho sub-committee be adopted with the following addition : " And that tlhe heads of the various departmnets bo asked to report and furnish all _ details as t© present rates of pay, periods of service, etc.," this report to embody any suggestions, they consider desirable or necessary; (b) that the further applications for increases received be referred to the special meeting of the board to tx> called. Mr Scollay moved as an amendment—- " That the following, be added to the import after the word etc. : ' Also to report as to whether it would work out equitablv were wages increased on a basis of 5 per cent, increase on wages of £4OO per year and over, 10 per cent, increase on wages of £SOO to £4OO. and .15 per cent, increase on wages up to £300.' " Mr Moller seconded the amendment, which was carried; and the committee's recommendation, with this addition, was then adooted.

CHARGES ON FERRY BOATS, ETC. The sub-committee appointed to deal with this matter reported that they had given careful consideration to the question of deriving additional revenue from the ferry boats, hulks, yachts, launches, etc., using the harbor and various wharves. They recommended the following alterations in the charges :—By-law 171 to read : " The owner of even' boat or vessel in respect of which a license is granted under these by-laws shall pay in advance to the board for such boat or vessel a yearly license fee according to the following scale :—For every coal'hulk or store ship 50 tons or under, £ls; coal hulk or store ship over 50 tons, £2O; lighter, cargo, powder, ballast or watertank boat or vessel, £io; for every vessel propelled by steam, oil, electricity, or other mechanical means/ plying for hire for the carriage of goods, or for towage purposes within the "harbor or any part of the sea adjacent thereto, three tons register or under, £4; over three tons and under five tons, £l2: over five tons register and under 10 tons register, £18; over 10 tons register and under 20 tons, £24; over 20 tons, £30." By-law 174 ato read :_ " Every yacht or launch not plvimr for hire must be licensed, and shall "pay in advance to the board a yearly license fee of 20 shillings." Mr Dickson moved as an amendment and Mr Scollay seconded that the report be referred back to the committee. Mr Campbell said that if the extra charges were imposed it meant another nail in tho coffin of the Perry Company. Mr Galbraith pointed out that the capital expenditure on the wharves came to £6.526. The Tevenue received from the license fees amounted to £l4B Is od. Under the recommendation of the subcommittee the revenue would be increased to £3BO.

Mr Loudon said the interest on the capital expenditure came to about £326, and he understood the general upkeep cost about £450 a year. It would be seen, therefore, that the board would still be out of pocket. He certainly thought that the rates should be increased. The amendment was carried. A EATING AREA. In accordance with notice of motion, the Chairman moved—'That in order to enhance the value of the securities the board .can offer to investors, and thereby reduce the rate of interest, and further to extend the powers of tho board in raising money for the carrying out of important and development works, the board forthwith take stops to secure legislative and other necessary power to rate the property within the district, the boundaries of which shall be duly determined, and to be known as the Otago Harbor district; and that the whole question be referred to a special meeting of the board to be held on a date to be fixed."—The Chairman said that it was absolutely essential that the board should take the matter into consideration. They had coming due at the ejid of this vear loans amounting to £200,000. There was no question about it that a public body who had not got a rating area would have to pay possiblv A per cent, more for their money. This would mean that the board would have to pay £I,OOO a year more on the £200,000 than if the board had a rating area. He had taken the trouble of going into the figures as given in the '"iear Book' of 1918. These showed that the total rateable value of the boroughs and counties affected amounted to £25,260,470. Of that sum the rateable value of the City of Dunedin came to £11,936,601. and tho rateable value of the remaining boroughs and counties to £13,323,869. Should they decide upon a rating area tho City of Dunedin would have to bear almost half of tho proportion of the rating. The country people should be just as much interested in the welfare of their harbor as are the Dunedin people. A rate of l-16th of a p<?nnv in the £ would produce £6,578; sc\, £13,156; id, £26,312. Would a small rate like that hurt tho country people? Mr iuissell: Yes.

The Chairman said that the country people should be just as much interested in the welfare of their harbor as the town people. Ho sii""-ested that if the resolution was carried a deputation should visit the country and place their vjew6 before the people there. Under a rating area the board would be in stich ,a position that thev would be able to reduce their dues, and the fanner indirectly would recover more than he would be required to pay under the ratify. Mr M'Donald. in seconding the motion, asked: Could there be any greater disaster to the farmer than if he was left without a harbor? Would the Otago farmers like to be left without the City of Dunedin and its harbor? Mr Dickson contended that the motion was entirelv out of order, and said he ■would vote against it. The country people were not interested one whit whether the produce came to Dunedin. The best part of it- was shipped from Port Chalmers, and the board should confine their efforts to the Lower Harbor. Mr Roberts said fhr.t the old Harbor Board acted wisely in bringing the channel up to Dunedin. Over three-fourths of the trade of the pos was done in Dunedin. On a vote being taken the motion was carried., LOWER RATTRAY STREET. In committee the board decided to continue negotiations for the purchase of the remaining land in Lower Rattray etreet required to complete the widening of that street.