HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES.

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln relercnco to the protest of the Port Chalmers Borough Council, moved by me, against further increasing the charges to shipping at Port Chalmers, I wish to thank you for pointing out that I erred in regard to the voting at the Harbour Board meeting m my saying that the increase was carried on tho casting vote of the chairman, At the same time, is it not an arrogant presumption for an official of the board to say that three members who were not present at tho meeting would have voted for the proposal when those three members, by their absence from tho meeting, did not hoar the convincing arguments advanced by tho shipping companies and members'of tho hoard against tho proposal to increase tho charges? Probably I made my mistake by assuming that Mr J. M.‘Dickson voted against the increase. As he usually votes to give Port Chalmers a fair run, Mr Dickson as a country representative might easily have been opnosed to increasing tho charges on ships loading produce, as increased charges to shipping usually react in heavier freight rates on farm produce. For tho same reason the other country representative on tho hoard CMr Driver! would probably Imvo voted against the increase had he been present at the meeting.

Mr Moller, who was also absent, usually voles to keep Port Chalmers on the map. So, after all, the board’s decision to increase the charges to shipping at Port Chalmers may be said, 1 think, to have been carried on a catch vote.— l am. etc., L. F. Smith. September 10.