Lightering and Rates.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 149, 5 July 1901, Page 3

Lightering and Rates.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sin. —On reading the Times’ report of the Harbor Board’s meeting held on Thursday, the 27th June, I was pleased to see that Mr Wliinray had touched on a point that concerns not only every ratepayer, but every resident of Gisborne, and I sincerely hope he will hammer away till an exhaustive enquiry is made, which I am sure must be the means of benefiting, not individuals, but the whole of Gisborne to no small extent. He stated that £150,000 : bad been spent upon the harbor improvements. and vet the same amount had to be paid for lighterage as was paid twentyfive years ago, and asked who derived the benefit. Can any of your readers answer the question'? Do those who have to pay the interest upon this sum derive any benefit'? The answer is, No. What is the use of still increasing the burden of taxation, which is already almost unbearable, if those who have to bear it reap no benefit ? The Chairman states that- at one time schooners had to be lightered, and now they can get to the wharf, and discharge, which is a saving of Is 6d per ton. Does this compensate for the money that has been spent '? Why cannot the Harbor Board take the lighterage in hand, and let the overburdened taxpayers reap some benefit ? Another question that cropped up with respect to goods being stored in the Harbor Board sheds might easily be remedied. The Chairman stated that if the Board took the delivery of goods in hand they | would have to pay a man to look after : them. Are they not now paying a man 1 something like £SO a year to look after their weighbridge ? Why not pay him 3 £l5O a year, which would only be an ad--1 dition of £7O a year, and let him look after the delivery of goods. I venture tc sav that the Board would save more that tho addition to his salary if he did hb duty. Mr Whinray will deserve thi t hearty thanks of every resident of Gis borne" if he brings this matter to a success ful issue, which he must do if he sticks ti it, and I will be very much mistaken u , ’ him if he allows it to drop.—l am, etc., Settler.