OPUNAKE HARBOUR BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 5

OPUNAKE HARBOUR BOARD

ELECTION of NEW CHAIRMAN,

OPPOSITION TO EXPENDITURE

Members of the Opunake Harbour Board present at the annual meeting yesterday were Messrs J. A. Pettigrew, T P. Hughson, R. 'O. Watson, G. Prosser, W. A. Sheat, and J. S. Hickey. The secretary (Mr H. E. Lodge) took the chair and asked for nominations for the position of chairman. Mr Hughson, the retiring chairman, declined nomination, stating that he had held the position for a considerable period and had definitedly decided he could not continue. He nominated M.r Pettigrew and Mr Watson seconded the proposal. , . Mr (Sheat proposed Mr Hickey, stating that he was opposed to any policy of spending any more money when the ratepayers had turned down such a proposal. , . The nomination lapsed as there was no seconder. Mr Hickey stated that he also was opposed to spending any more money on harbour works anil therefore must oppose both Mr Hughson and Mr Pettigrew, on grounds of policy.. There was nothing personal in his action. " The motion for election of Mr Pettigrew was adopted, Messrs Sheat and Hickey voting in opposition. On taking the chair, Mr Pettigrew said he was 1 f more sensible of the responsibility than of the honour” devolving on him, hut he looked for support from members of the board in the work that lay before them. The most important question that was to be considered was the arrangement of the renewal of the big loan. Mr Hiekey said he had been opposed to the chairman for his past policy, hut assured Mr Pettigrew of hearty cooperation in the work to be done except any further expenditure on the port. Mr Sheat said there was nothing personal in his attitude, but there was a matter of principle involved. On the motion of Mr Hughson, Mr Hickey was elected deputy-chairman. COMMITTEES APPOINTED. The first ordinary meeting of the new period was then held. Committees for the current year were set up as follow: Finance, Messrs Sheat, HughSon and chairman; works, Messrs G. Prosser, the Government nominee when appointed and the chairman; reserves, Messrs Hickey, "Watson and the chairman.

The secretary (Mr 11. E. Lodge - ) reported that sand grass had been planted in the enclosed area where required by relief labour and there were still patches outside the area which required attention and these would be attended to as labour was available. It was reported that the wharf structure was becoming loose owing to constant surge; bolts had broken off, the cause being probably the extra strain caused by the spreading of the breakwater owing to particularly heavy south-west gales experienced lately. The Auditor-General advised that, in pursuance of the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill, warrants in respect to debentures on other securities issued by the board on or after May should ibe chargeable with stamp duty at 3d for every 2s 6d or portion on any coupon or warrant. FINANCE REPORT REQUESTED. •Mr Slieat asked if there were *not some report on the present financial position and suggestions for the future. They were in the dark as to the position. The chairman said the financial year ended at September 30 and then the whole question would be revised. The secretary said he could prepare a statement and let members have a copy in the course of a day or two. He remarked that interest had all been met, but there was an overdraft of £I7OO. Ho undertook, as instructed, to (prepare and forward a statement to members.

Mr Hughson referred to minor matters that needed attention, including bolts for two stays in the piles at the end of the wharf.

Mr, Hickey said he recognised that they must face small expenditure to preserve their assets. He was, however, against spending money on the wharf, excepting such as was necessary to maintain it until the board had decided its policy. He held that the board should consider realising on the staging. It contained a lot of valuable timber which should be disposed of before it went out to sea, which they had been jed to believe would happen ultimately. At tnc next meeting the board would have to go thoroughly into the question and bring down a definite policy. Mr Sheat said that he would be opposed to expending even the price of a couple of bolts on the wharf to keep it as a wharf, but if it was a question of preserving it until they decided what to do with it the position was different. He also favoured small expenditure for protecting their assets. He made it definite that he would not support any expenditure for the maintenance of the harbour as a harbour, because he did not consider it was a harbour, or ever would be.