SHAPING OF POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 25173, 12 May 1944, Page 6

SHAPING OF POLICY

HARBOUR BOARD AFFAIRS FINAL MEETING BEFORE ELECTIONS Most of the business at the final meeting of its three-year term last night of the Otago Harbour Board before the local body elections concerned the settling of contentious issues, such as the future of the Southern Endowment, so that a policy could be stated for the guidance and assistance of future boards. Agreement was reached after a lengthy statement had been sub-' mitted by the chairman (Mr R. S. Thompson) 1 hat Ihe endowment be retained for Harbour Board purposes only. The consideration accorded him during his lerm as chairman by members and officers of the board was warmly acknowledged by Mr Thompson, who presided over Messrs R. Walls, W. Begg, D. iF. H. Sharpe, J. B. Waters, H. S. Watson, J. T. Knewstubb, W. R. Clarke. A. Smith, J. Preston, A. Mcßae, J. W. Mimro, M.P., and F. Tyson. PATRIOTIC DONATIONS. Appreciation of donations by.the board to their funds was expressed in letters from the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council (which was given £500) and the DunedinSt. Kilda Patriotic Committee (which is to have the donation from the board increased). ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN. An invitation was extended by the Chamber of Commerce and accepted by members of the board and its staff to an address to be given by the chairman (Mr Thompson) to the chamber, the Association, and the Importers and Shippers' Association on May 16. DREDGING AND MAINTENANCE. The report for April covering works carried out during that month was tabled by the assistant engineer (Mr A. G. Swanson), and it showed that 16 loads of spoil from Harrington bend and from the dock entrance were dumped at sea by the dredge Otakou, which steamed 211 miles and consumed 130 tons of coal. At the Anderson's Bay inlet, the report continued, a considerable number of stranded octopi were buried in anticipation of complaints from nearby residents. The hull of the new dredge launch was practically completed, and the engine and rudder had yet to bo fitted. The report detailed repairs to fittings and other property of the board, and also routine maintenance of plant that had been done during April. OFFICIAL HISTORY OF PORT. " Now that the province is approaching its centenary it would be particularly fitting and timely to compile a record of the history of the board, or really a history of' the development of this port, so that other generations will be given an idea of the tremendous amount of work that has been done," said Mr Waters, who presented a motion advocating the compiling of an official history as an activity that should be carried out by the incoming board. The Chairman remarked that before a member of the board could become efficient in its affairs it was essential that he be equipped with a knowledge of the history of the port, and the motion was carried. BOARD'S FINANCES. A net credit balance of £8,702 18s 3d was reported by the board's treasurer (Mr J. Renton), whose statement of ordinary revenue and expenditure for April and for the sfiven months ended April was presented. The renort showed that revenue for April (excludin? special items and rents) was £9.66+ (£9.633 for 1933). For the period I'rom April to October the revenue was £78.471 (£69.973 for 1943). The toial revenue (excluding transfers from_ reserve funds') for the two periods respectively was £15,880 (£13,842) and £102,371 (£99.027). The gross returns for the seven months showed an excess of expenditure over revenue of £10,446, but the following adjustments required to be deducted to reach a more accurate figure:—Rents—adjustments to proportion of estimate, £1.400; insurance premiums paid in excess of proportion of estimate, £1,076; dock improvements refundable bv the Government, £1.524, making a total of £4.000. These amounts reduced tbe deficit to £6.446, as against the estimated deficit for the seven months of £14.472. The bank balance at May 9 of the board's general account was £7,911, against which there were accounts for payment totalling apm'oximataly £6,000. E.vnenditure out of the £400,000 loan totalled £579 for April, making a total of £3.132 for the seven months. "The board i= £B.OOO better off than was anticipated," commented the chairman. The report was adonted