Harbour Board Rates and Rents

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 September 1934, Page 2

Harbour Board Rates and Rents

NEED FOR DRASTIC ACTION. Practically throughout the whole course of the meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board, held yesterday, mention was being made to the condition of the board’s finances, with special reference to the question of unpaid rents and rates. Following the reading of the minutes of the meeting held in June last, wherein reference was made to the question of outstanding rents, the secretary stated, in reply to a question, that the amounts were now coming in very well.

Mr Kellow: Has any legal action been taken?

The secretary replied in the negative, but added that he expected to take further action at an early date in conjunction with the audit inspector. The matter was further discussed when correspondence relative to loan conversion was being considered, it being decided to request the local committee to go fully into the matter and submit a report to a meeting to be held on the 24th instant.

A little later the matter again cropped up, when a considerable amount of correspondence was tabled in regard to payments of arrears.

In reply to a question by Mr, Kellow, the secretary stated that roughly £SOO was outstanding in respect of rents due to the board, Mr Kellow said it was apparent that some drastic action was needed, as the board was simply drifting. In some cases rents were three and four years overdue, and he considered that the local committee should get on to the matter.

Mr. Eaikes suggested that some outside man should be appointed to relieve the secretary of this work. He could oollect amounts and make regular statements to the board. Mr Kellow: What about the board's solicitor? Is he doing anything in the matter?

The secretary: Many of these accounts have been in his hands for some time.

Mr Kellow: It is ridiculous for the board to be so far behind in its collections. A resolution was passed in June last, in which debtors were to be given 14 days' notice, and yet nothing has been done.

Mr. Raikes pointed out that owing to the illness of the secretary the work had got behind.

The chairman: I move that the whole of the arrears be placed in the hands of the board’s solicitor.

Mr Kellow: I suggest that the whole matter be reviewed and that a statement of the matter be placed before the next meeting. This was agreed upon.

At a later stage in the meeting, when the accounts for the past four months were being considered, Mr. Kellow asked if the board had seen its balancesheet for the year ended September, 1933.

The secretary said that the Government auditor had not yet completed his work of inspection, and the balancesheet would not be available until this was completed. Mr. Kellow expressed surprise that the balance-sheet, now almost a year old, had not been considered by the board and adopted subject to audit. He asked for information regarding the board’s operations for the 1933 year. Had the board made a profit or a loss? The secretary said the year had resulted in a loss. However, he could not give the figures, as the auditor had the books in Ins possession as well as the balance-sheet. He pointed out, however, that members- had been given a copy of the board's working statement at each meeting.

Mr. Kellow: The local committee should take a more intelligent interest in the affairs of the board; No one seems to know the board's position. The chairman (Mr J. Linkiater, M.P.); The local committee has been doing good work. I would suggest, however, that meetings be held more frequently, he added. Mr. Kellow to the cnairman; 1 suppose you are satisfied with the way the Board is running, that there will be no necessity for levying a rate on local bodies this year?

The chairman; I understand from the secretary that there will be no need for calling up a rate. However, lam not in possession of the figures, but a full statement of the accounts will be available for the next meeting. In reply to a furtuer question "by Mr Kellow, the secretary said that shipping was keeping up well. • ; Mr Kellow: Are the shipping charges being collected sufficient to pay salaries?

Mr. Eaikes said the shipping operations wCre showing a good profit. ’The’ statement put before them in Palmerston North showed that this part of ,th!e board's work was going a long 'way towards providing the board's revenUij' requirements. Mr. Kellow: Is there much revenue 1 in arrears in the shipping business ingard to the working of the port

The secretary tabled a list of outstanding accounts in this connection, which prompted Mr Kellow to remark that the wharfage account was ; in. a much better position than the rent account.

Further discussion on the matter terminated on the understanding that a detailed statement of the position in regard to outstanding accounts would be placed before the meeting on the 24th instant.