THE HARBOR BOARD PROFOSALS.

North Otago Times, 3 September 1910, Page 4

THE HARBOR BOARD PROFOSALS.

MEETING AT INCHOLME. As briefly reported in yesterday's Times, a well-attended meeting wa3 held in Incholme Schoolroom on Thursday evening to protest against the Bill now before Parliament relating to the consolidation of the loans Scheme of the Oamaru Harbor Board. Mr H. M'Quade was voted to the chair, and -in his, opening remarks stated that the .meeting was called to oppose the' loan, as they considered the Chairman of the Harbor Board,. Mr Milligan, was not a reliable man. If. the loan was passed there was no. doubt it would mean an increased rate.' Mr Dasler's statement at Toka-rahi was fluite correct, and it would be much better to wait another three years and have ' the loans consolidated then.. He • considered Mr Milligan's-action in reference to the £50,000 loan .a short while ago was not fair, and held that'thd ratepayers had been hoodwinked;, The statements then made about the Progress had since been shown, to have been unreliable. Further, the poll had not beci 'conducted properly, as many had voted who had no right to. do so, Referring to the harbor, the chairman was of opinion that it was of little use to the settlers, as Canterbury .buyers came along and bought their lamljs at a better price than they could pet in Oameru Then in regard to the died-jinq; proposals, it was not necessary io dredge 30 acres, as there weie onlfc- a few vessels in the bErtor nt any time, Mr Rose's scheml o delay the rant-i

'tcr./fpranoth'^ preferabio::; ;.'.to :; Ifto vpresent. one, ..as' by that! time".they' would probably havo -a differentmethod ■'• of ele'ctlhg a: Board'.•'' ,Tkey -certainly had no faith in the-present: Board,'' The chairman .■; Concluded by .''urging all present to dp, 'their Utmost; to prevent this Bill from paaaing. Their rates were high enough- at present, ■'and they feared an increase ' if; the Board succeeded in obtaining;.' the power they sought. ; ■'..-.." : . ( A member of the audience asked if any'answer had been made to.Mr Dasler's letter as to how'the loan was to be raised; and was informed that so far as was'known none had been returned. -

The Chairman asked if anyone could say if the 3111 were passed would the loan be raised without the consent of the ratepayers being asked, and was answered in the negative. ~

Mr. James Gemmell said he had only been informed that day ofths meeting, and therefore he had had no time to consider the whole matter/ x-ureoually, he nau.no taitn in tue uarbor Hoard, and. in. his opinion the harbor had been muddled evei since its inception. . He did not jlamo the mernuers of the Board in .one old .days, as money was then .'try short; but he , did find fault with the.way in which money had oeen frittered away since, .The speaker detailed at length the history of the construction of the harbor, .When the uredge Progress was purchased tusy were informed that, she wiuld be able to thoroughly dredge the harbor and after, a siiert time sfie could be sold, as they would have no further' use for her. The shingle continued to ■■come in, however, and then it was seen that the Progress was not equal to, the work of Keeping it out. When the lii'/'J loan was raised Ihcliolme. was not in the rating district, and in his opinion the ratepayers there could not now be liable for that loan. .He 'believed that some £I7OO worth of bonds were held m Oamaru, ' and people there bad bo2n ikying them up at from £8 to £l2. '

The Chairman-: It h rumored that Mr.MiUigan. has got a.good share' of tlitm. ■

Mr Gemmell said that personally, he objected to any more money being raised for the harbor so long as the Board was composed as at present, in the next, throe years much might be done, and by then they would lie able to- elect their own members. It would be a good thing to keep the receiver another three years, and that would be the time to consolidate the l»ans. He noticed that Mr Mijligan, in reply to Mr Crawshaw, bad stated, that the rates would not be increased.

The chairman asked'how could Mr Milligan know that when he did not know what interest would have to be paid.

Mr Newlands: When the first two loans mature what will be the position of the 1879 bondholders ? ' Mr Joseph Williams said he was there as a ratepayer of the Harbor Board, and he would be pleased to give the desired information. He was in the same boat as themselves, and he would like to pay as little in rates as aHyttody. The speakct then gave a. full explanation of the financial position of the Board. It would not be 'absolutely neoessary to repay the loans in three years' time, because in 35 years they would liquidate themselves tjy means of sinking, funds. When these loans were paid off the 1879 bonds became a first mortgage,' but 'by that time, instead of as at present owing £208,000, they would owe something like £400,000. Mr Gemmell said that in the event of a storm coming and destroying the harbor, they would be liable for (ill time.

The Chairman said there was not much encouragement for them to keep up the harbor, seeing the revenue did not cover the expenses. It was only good for coastal trade and keeping down the railway rates. Mr Gemmell held that there was little or no advantage to send produce to Oamaru.

The Chairman invited someone to move a resolution..

Mr Newlands thought they should wait until the 'Chairman of the Board had explained the position, The Chairman doubted if his information would do them much good. Mr Newlands said 'he would like to see the 1879 bondholders got rid of. • Mr Williams, in reply to another question, said they wanted first oi all to) settle 'with the 1879 bondholders, which would require a sum of £50,000. They could then pay off the other loans as ijbJey matured. The speaker then strong deprecated the remarks of the chairman regarding Mr Milligan, and paid a high compliment to the latter as an upright man doing his best for the ratepayer's. The chairman had said such things which could not 'he. proved. The Board was 'doing its best for the ratepayers, and he mentioned, that though the members were entitled to receive a guinea per meeting they had refused it, and now all they did receive was abuse.

The Chairman asked if Mr Williams believed the scheme for a new dredge was in the 'best interests of the ratepayers. Mr Williams replied that he was of that opinion at the time and still thought so. If. the port were closed to-morrow the debt would still remain, anil he pomtei jmtthat the Board was now collecting a less rate than they had the power to do.

The Chairman held that it would lie better to let the matter rest until 1913.

Mr Williams: The Board are only preparing for .1913. Mr Gemmell moved-"That this meeting objects to /the O'amaru Harbor Enabling Bill being passed this session, and that a telegram, to this effect be sent to the Premier, the Minister of Marine and the members of Parliament for Oamaru and Waitaki." Mr Youart seconded.

Mr Williams (a member of the Harbor Board), moved as an amendment, that the meeting stand adjourned until the Bill.is passed and the Harbor Board bag the opportunity of explaining the Bill to a future meeting.. Mr M'Kee seconded,

On a vote boing taken ten voted for the motion and six for the amendment,

A voito ftf th'Biijqs : .'*• the chjirman brought the meeting to a close.