PORT OF FOXTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 1, 1 December 1931, Page 5

PORT OF FOXTON

HARBOUR BOARD’S FINANCES. FUTURE IN QUESTION. (From Our Own Correspondent). FOXTON, Nov. 30. At the annual meeting to-day of the Foxton Harbour Board a considerable amount of discussion took place regarding the board’s finances. Mr Kellow commented that the chairman, Mr Linklater, had made no mention of the state of the board’s finances in his report. The chairman said the balance-sheet had been prepared, but had not yet been audited. Tho board had a credit balance of £263 7s sd. Mr Killow said that from a porusual of tho statements it appeared as if the board had lost £537 7s during the year. Nothing had been written off. Tho chairman said a great number of improvements had been carried out at To Wharangi during the year._ If greater facilities were given at the beach tne section holders would increase. The Sanatorium Road had done much to popularise the beach and the sealing of the Himajtangi Road had also assisted. Mr Edwards 'said the asphalting of the Himatangi Road had done much to assist the beach. If local bodies would got together and assist the board everything would be all right and the board, would geT over its financial difficulties. With confidence restored in the country after the election he felt that all would be well with the board. Mr Kellow asked for a statement in rc[gard to shipping alone. | The secretary said inward wharfage amounted to £ISOB 19s and outward £B6 8s for tho year. Handling charges were £625 9s 4d. Mr Kellow said as far as ho could seo if the board was running a wharf alono the lose would be £BO4 on the harbour for the year. He was not greatly interested in the beach. What he desired to know was whether the board could carry on on gripping alone. Was tho board justified in funning tho port at a loss of £BOO a year and calling on local bodies to assist.

Mr J. A. Nash said that endowments had to be taken into consideration. If the board had no wharf it would have no endowments. Mr Perreau said, that it could not bo denied that tho district derived a benefit from the port. The secretary said that a concession had been made in wharfage during the year, but rates of pay to wharf workers had not been reduced.

Mr Nash said that Mr Kellow’s worry was ae to whether the board could carry on without striking a further rate. He was equally worried in that direction. Mr W. E. Barber (treasurer) : It does not appear as if the board will be able to do so this year. Mr Nash said that afc the time the second levy of £IOOO was struck he had asked, and the board had agreed, that in the event of the board finding the position such at the end of this year that it would be necessary to consider a further levy, before considering such action a consultation of local bodies would be held. 'While the board had a lot to bo thankful for the position was bad. It was endeavouring to improve the beach to induce people to take up sections and tho more sections sold the more money the board would have to support the upkeep of the port. The position was such, however, that ho thought that in three months’ time the board should get an indication as to where it was heading before any action was taken to strike a rate. In his opinion it was wrong to expect local bodies to provide £I6OO a year to keep tho boord afloat. Iflr Perreau: The board has carried on for ten years and only called on local bodies for £2OOO over that period. Mr Nash said that tho board had pulled through for the ten years, but now required £IOOO a year to carry on. There was also an item of £4IOO on the balancesheet for dredge which had been idle for years and was worth no more than £250.

He moved that the secretary bring down a statement at the February meeting to show the exact position, and in the eveafc of it being unsatisfactory a conference of local bodies be convened to discuss the matter of carrying on. This was agreed to.