THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1903.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10520, 30 January 1903, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1903.

The members of the Harbour Board may bo honestly congratulated on at last shaking themselves free, at least tosomc extonb, from tlic trammels of the Railway Department. While the thanks of the public arc due to the Railway authorities for much, good work done on aud about the wharves under their supervision, latterly there has been abundant cause for dissatisfaction. Perhaps this is au inevitable result of tke dual control. The Railway Department is responsible for the management of tke wharf and the accommodation afforded for shipping, while the revenue of tke Harbour Board pays for it all. The Railway Department control tke administration, and the Board pays the cost. But this dual control does not always work out as satisfactorily as it ought to do in tho interests of tho port. Consequently independent action on the part of the Board is sometimes necessary. Tke Board has admittedly for a very long time past — a most unreasonably long time —been in want of a substantial and fairly powerful travelling crane. But for some inexplicable reason it has not been provided. The want of it has been a constant source of complaint from all who have a practical knowledge of the working of the wharf. Perhaps we should not be so very much, surprised at the apathy of the Railway Department iv these matters ; it is quite outside the ordinary scope of their duties, and there is very little doubfc that tlieir officers look upon tho requirements of our wharfage accommodation as a most intolerable nuisance. Consequently we hare no right to expect from them any genuine interest in wharf or harbour matters, or more than the perfunctory discharge of-! any duties outside the necessities of the Department. But tke Board is wedded to the Department iudissolubly, and the bond cau not at present be loosened or broken. However, it; is satisfactory to sec that the members of the Board have takcu heart of grace by adopting Mr Felix Campbell's motion, that the Railway Department bo informed that tlio Board cannot wait any longer for the steam travelling eraue, and that the authority to procure ouc be cancelled, as tke Board intends getting one constructed in the colouy. This is a breaking away from the old. embarrassing custom of leaving important and pressing wants to a depart- ( mont that really takes but a dead-aud- j alive sort of interest in shipping requirements, and may lead to some healthy and muck needed improvements. Iv deciding to obtain such a travelling crauc as has long been required tlio Board may see their way to providing other essential J requirements for the port that it would not be advisable to leave to a dilator}' department to obtain. If Mr Campbell's resolution should prove to be the initial step in leading to the Board exerting tkemselves and showing a more active interest iv meeting the rapidly growing requirements of tke trade of tke port, tke effect will be most beneficial and cause a feeling of regret tkat tke step was not taken before. JV£r McKeelmie kiicw wiiatkeuas talking about when ke moved tkat tke Engineer prepare plaus and estimates for increased wharf accommodation down stream to the cattle wharf. He is a professional mariner and may consequently be supposed to Imow sometking of tko requirements oE a port. It would be well if tkere were otker members of tke Board possessed of a teckuical knowledge in otker branches of commerce tkat would prove useful in tke management of tke Board's affairs. It woulcl.be a good thing, for instance, if tke interests of skipping and of tke exporters of coal aud timber wcro represented on tke Board- All tkese interests are tke mainstay of tke port aud tke ck'ef solicitude of tkat body' should be to encourage tkem all aud generally promote trade by making tke port popular witk shipmasters. Whilst we have not a "word to say against tke members of tke Board individually, wko may be safely credited witk a desire to do their best for tke town, it must not be regarded as a reflection ou auy of them if we suggest that it would probably be to tke advantage of tke town if some alteration were made iv tko personnel of tke Board. This is no new idea. For a long time tkis opinion kas prevailed and been freely canvassed iv commercial circles. Perhaps tke Government niigkt look at tke question from tkis point of viow when making auy frcsk appointments iv tke future. It is to tke best interests of all to see as active aud efficient aßoard as may be obtainable amongst tke citizens of tke to ivu. IE greater regard had beeu paid to tkis in tke past it cannot but be tkougkt tkat tke port would have reaped a benefit. Wo cannot expect to obtaiu tko maximum of usefulness from our local bodies if we do not strive to obtain tke services of tke most qualified aud disinterested persons to give tkeir services to tke public. Can it truthfully be said tkat tkis kas always been dene ? We are afraid not ; and to tkat extent tke public and tke Government also, in regard to tkeir nominees, may be held responsible j if tkey should at any time feel disappointed at any shortcomings ou tke part of tkeiii representatives. Tkis view of tke. position is well worthy of serious consideration by tke public aud the Government alike.