THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Northern Advocate, 2 May 1933, Page 8

THE HARBOUR BOARD.

(To the Editor.) ,Sir, —In your issue of yesterday, -Mi W. A. Hoey, of Okara Farm, makes as- | sevtions regarding the policy and administration of the Harbour Board, which statements put briefly are as follows: —“That a late chairman of the board said that when the harbour works were completed, the lot of the harbour workers would be sacked, and that the new board must consider who is to be sacked; that a good accountant is necessary in order that members would have an idea of what reconstruction is wanted; that the people are still paying interest on the cost of the railAvav to Onerahi; that the harbour rate will be annual a flair, as the revenue of the board is not going to pay for working expenses and interest on borrowed moneys; that before the end of the next financial, year the board will probably find it necessary to appoint a, commission to go into its affairs; and that he can assure the public that there will be no commercial works going on at Kloreroa.” In fairness to the public and to the members of the board, Mr Tloey’s statements call, for explanation. The board’s paid cm plovers are as follows: —An office stall’ of three people consisting' of one man who is engineer, secretary, treasurer and harbourmaster, and his two lady assistants. The amount ot revenue and other receipts handled by this office and expended during last year was approximately £20,000. In the town wharf goods-sheds two young men carry out the work of receiving and delivering an average of 2000 tons of general goods monthly and collecting

duos thereon. There is one man employed as wharfinger, storeman, nightwatchman and general workman, who lives on the premises at Whangarei. At Onerahi wharf one man Is employed as wharfinger and ernnedriver. For the demolition of the Onerahi wharf and the rebuilding of this structure at Kioreroa, three men were temporarily engaged at Onerahi and a building toro-

man and three men were employed at Kioreroa, the remainder of the labour necessary for this, work having been found by the Unemployment Board. The last man to mention is the foreman, in charge of over 100 relief workers who are engaged in the reclamation and loading of the board’s endowment tidal lands. From the foregoing 1 think it 'will be agreed that there has been no justification for dispensing with the services of any of the employees. Regarding the alleged need of an accountant, I can only say that both the board and the Government

Audit Department arc wo 11 satisfied with tin* inannor in which all necessary .separate acconnls arc kept. The interest Mr Hoey says tin* people are paying for tin* Ouoralii railway is no ('oiiooni of tlk* board, but the 'board is interested concerning the early removal of the. obstruction across the river brought about by such railway. Tip to the present time the board has paid all its interest and sinking fund, it has paid for all essential services and it ha.s spent several thousands of pounds in permanent improvements and all ol these payments have been made, out of revenue, not out of loan money as inferred by Mr Hoey. Thus it is not

aiitieipated that a loan rate Avill be necessary annually, nor is there any sign at present of the board appointing a commission now or at any future date to go into or manage its affairs. It would lie interesting to know on what authority Mr Hoey assures the people that there will be no commercial undertakings at Kioreroa. I can only say that, to the board's knowledge, works of very considerable benefit to the district would now be established at Kioreroa bat for the slump which paralysed all industry and for which the board is not responsible and I anticipate that when the Kioreroa. wharf is in commission and there is a road to the new port, development there under private enterprise will soon lie in evidence, and Mr Uoey will be the first to commend the Harbour Board on its foresight. I am, etc., .1. .A. FINLAYSOM. , Chairman Whangarei Harbour Board.