GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 6

GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Annual Meeting MR. J'. B. KENT ELECTED CHAIRMAN. The annual meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board was held last evening. In vacating the chair the retiring chairman, Mr. J. A. Murdoch, thanke members for the courtesy they had shown him during the year. It had seemed a short year, and on no occasion had any member said or done anything to cause him to be annoyed —and it was not often that a chairman could say that. He hoped his successor would have a pleasant year. To the officers and staff he extended thanks for the way in which they had discharged their duties. He hoped that by the time the election of a chairman was again due they would have emerged from the dark cloud of war. He remarked that the revenue for the year had totalled more than £26,000 and expressed the hope that this figure would continue to grow. A member of the Board moved that the chairman’s allowance be the same as last year. Mr. J. Smeaton moved that the allowance be £5O a year. Mr. F. Williams said that Mr. Smeaton had given no reason for his resolution. He asked what the objection was to £lOO as in the past. If it. was. that a town member would need less through having to travel less that would, not carry weight with him, as a country member was paid for coming to town. Mr. Smeaton said that for many years thousands of pounds were spent and no honorarium was paid. It was only in the last 20 years or less that the question had been introduced. It was quite true that travelling expenses were allowed but it was often necessary to travel to town on Board business when no travelling expenses were allowed. Mr.. W. E. Pring said that he was easy about the question, though £5O seemed enough; but if it was to he £5O it should be the same whether the chairman were a town or a country member. As there was no seconder for Mr. Smeaton’s amendment it lapsed, and the motion, that the annual allowance remain £lOO, was carried. Nominations were then called tor chairman. T -o Mr. Mulcare nominated Mr. J. B. Kent as the senior member. Mr. Smeaton nominated Mr. Murdoch who declined Mr. Kent was declared elected. In returning thanks he said that the job would be an easv one if every member gave his co-operation. Moving that the retiring chairman’s services to the Board he recorded, he remarked that Mr. Murdoch was a man better versed than most in local body work. The motion was carried with acclamation. Mr. F. Williams was elected deputy chairman and chairman of the Finance Committee.

The Chairman’s and Engineer’s annual reports were received and adopted. MONTHLY MEETING Mr J. B. Kent presided over the monthly meeting of the board. Also present were Messrs F. Williams, W. E. Pring, J. Mulcare, W. Clayton, E. W. Heenan, J. A. Murdoch and J. Smeaton, also the secretary (Mr W. B. Gilbert) and'the engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy). The estimates, as presented, providing for receipts amounting to £23,917 10s, expenditure amounting to £27,770 13s 2d, and an overdraft of £3853 3s 2d, were approved. The Works Foreman, Railways Department, wrote suggesting that No. 3 hydro crane be placed in the position’ now occupied by No. 1 crane, as No. 3 crane was more costly to maintain and in its present position was in more constant use than No. 1 crane.—This was agreed to. The Under-Secretary of Mines -wrote advising that the Minister of Mines had approved of the postponement of payment of rent due by United Brunner Coal Mines Ltd. until November 30, 1943. On the same matter Mr Sydney A. A. Fry wrote thanking the board for agreeing to postponement of rent due by United Brunner Coal Mines Ltd.

The manager, Union Steam Shin Co., Ltd., Greymouth, wrote thanking the board for remission of account for damage to the main wharf by one of the company’s vessels. The Department of Health, Christchurch, wrote asking for information regarding the extermination of rats on vessels entering the port.-—The matter was left to the secretary. It was decided that Hon. J. Ryall,

iM L C or any other member able to Ido so should represent the board at the annua! meeting of the New Zealand Harbour Boards’ Industrial Union of Employers. The secretary, Runanga School of Mines, wrote applying for a donation to funds.—ll was decided to forward the usual donation of ±IV. A Deed of Assignment concerning sections at Dobson from Grey Valiev Collieries Ltd. to the Crown was received from Messrs Raymond Stringer and Hamilton and Donnelly for tlie board’s consent. Greymouth Prefabricators and Builders (M. J. Keating, E. Beumeiberg and G. Batty) wrote, applying for 21 years’ lease on Section 8, reclaimed land, lagoon dock area. It was decided to grant the lease, the question of filling the section to be left to the secretary and the engineer. The Treasury Department wrote remitting the following: Wharfages £B7B Ils sd, sale of quarry stone £403 2s 3d. The Finance Committee reported that receipts since the last meeting had totalled £lBl7 8s Id, made up as follows: Shipping dues £406 3s 3d, rents £3O 0s 4d, hire and sale plant £7 5s 9d, sale quarry stone £422 18s 3d, wharfages £B7B 11s sd, accident compensation £36 13s 9d, deposit on hire plant £24, interest on £lOOO 2nd Liberty Loan £ll 16s 2d. The Harbour Fund had a debit balance of £2847 8s Bd. Accbunts amounting to £2582 7s were passed for payment.