THE HARBOUR FINANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9014, 29 March 1888, Page 5

THE HARBOUR FINANCES.

GENERAL REDUCTIONS.

THE ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT SWEPT AWAY.

A special meeting of the Harbour Board, in committee of the whole, was held yesterday afternoon, to consider the financial position of the Board, and the financial statement and approximates of receipts and expenditure for the current year. This statement was submitted at the last meeting of the Board, and remitted to a special meeting of the whole Board. °

At yesterday's meeting Mr. M. Niccol, in the absence of the chairman, presided, and there were present Messrs. IP. Dignan, J. M. Clark, I). H. McKenzie, T. Henderson, J. Winks, A. H. Nathan, T. Morrin, and C. B. Stone.

The meeting being in committee, the public and press were excluded, but we have been able to obtain the results as follows :—

In regard to the first items in the report and estimates, which dealt chiefly, with charges for interest, etc., there was no room for discussion, but then the question of salaries came up, and these were dealt with trenchantly. In dealing with the secretary and treasurer's department the committee decided to recommend the reduction of the secretary's salary by £100; the chief clerk, £50 ; the second clerk, £25; and to dispense with the third clerk—making a total saving in this department of £300. In regard to the engineer's department, it was recommended to virtually wuk it away altogether by dispensing with engineer, the assistant engineer, and cadet, thus effecting a saving of £820, and retaining only the services of a foreman of works. The Harbourmaster is to be reduced to £300, and Deputy Harbourmaster, Mr. Fisher, to £250. The signalman's salary is reduced by £25, the chief storekeeper by £25, and the second storekeeper, £10. The total saving to be effected by these reductions is £14S0, and they are to take effect in July next, notice in the meantime being given to all the officials affected.

The committee sat until five p.m., but had barely got into the beginning of the columns of figures before them when they adjourned, and it is improbable that they will be able to report at the next general meeting of the Board.