GRAVE PROBLEMS AHEAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10898, 12 May 1921, Page 5

GRAVE PROBLEMS AHEAD

FOR HARBOUR BOARD DIFFICULT AND TRYING YEAR PREDICTED. WATERSIDE LABOUR QUESTION. The statutory annual meeting of the Harbour Board for the election of chairman was held yesterday afternoon. Mr J. G. Harkness (the retiring chairman) presided, and >the other members present were Messrs C. M. Turrell, T. Moss, C.. J. Bj- Norwood, G. Mitchell, M.P., J. B. McEwan, J. Leucshars, H. D. Bennett, M. W. Welch, 0. ' . McEwan, J. G. Cobbe and Captain McArthur. Leave of absence was granted to Mr M. Cohen, at present m Sydney. Mr C. E. Daniell was also absent'. TRYING YEAR AHEAD. The chairman said that in the first place he desired to congratulate those who *had been returned who were recently members of the board. He knew that in the coming year, fraught with important issues to the interests of the port and city, they would, as in the past, devote their abilities and energies to the work of the board, and would safeguard to the utmost of their power the welfare and prosperity of . the port. He felt sure that the same might be said of the new members. Great and important as were the positions of Mayor of Wellington and those of the city councillors, he was convinced that the positions of the chairman and the members of the Harbour Board were even more important, as the work of that board Was concerned so intimately with the prosperity and wellbeing of the port and the city as a whole. A CAPABLE CHAIRMAN. Mr Welohproposed the re-election of Mr J. G. Harkness for the ensuing twelve months, and paid a tribute to his work during the past two years. Mr C. M. Turrell, who seconded the nomination, complimented the retiring chairman upon the valuable services he had rendered. A man of great business experience was, he said, required for the post of chairman during the coming time of leanness ahead, when the expenditure of money would have to be most carefully guarded, and wise expenditure was needed for - urgent works. That matter was particularly important, and membors of the hoard would have to give even greater attention to the work of the board than In tile past. - There being no other nomination, Mr Harkness was declared unanimously re-elected.

IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD. Mr Harkness, who was received with applause, said that he-would bo .less than human if he did not appreciate the high honour the board had conferred upon him. He would only eay that he was deeply grateful to them for having elected him for the third time as chairman of so important a body. He valued exceedingly the honour they had done him. He took the proceedings that afternoon as a good omen that friendly relations would exist between the different members of the board and himself; and he could only give them the assurance that in bis capacity as chairman he would do all he could to promote the interests of the members and give each and all of them an opportunity of giving their views on the important matters that came before the board. His object was that, even with tile difficulties ahead, something should be accomplished this year which would be of importance to the Harbour' Board and the city. The year they had passed through had been one of exceeding difficulty and trial. For the coming year the prospect was that the difficulties would be increased, and (hat the board would have to contend with exactly tha same features as last year. It wae not only going to be a difficult, but a trying, year, for tha reason that, while each of them might have' ideals as to what they would like _to eee accomplished and works carried out, there would be need for considerable patience on their part, and they must, at the same time, egeroiee that judgment which would enable them to do what they believed to be right in the interests of the port. There must he, also, a certain amount of driving force to get on with the work which they thought out to be accomplished and to carry out important improvements.

thorntk>n rbooamatxon, etc.

Some people thought that the Pipitea wharf, a very important work, could be completed within eighteen months, but that was utterly impossible; because, in the first place, it would absolutely absorb all the available funds, ana,, in the second place, they had not had the necessary material to carry out the preparation work and the piles had to mature for at least four months before they could dare to drive them. Another exceedingly important work, both to the Harbour /Board and the city, was the Thorudon reclamation. (Hear, hear.-) He believed that the building of the reinforced concrete wall alone would make a pretty big hole in £200,000. It was a big scheme, but it was going to make the city of Wellington. (Hhear, hear:) Another big scheme that might havd to be carried out at an earlier period than they had anticipated was the extension of the Miramar wharf. Very considerable works, not confined to any particular company, were going up at Miramar; and there was a possibility that they might be duplicated or triplicated. So that if they were going to retain the work in the city they must make provision for it by the extension of the wharf. WATERSIDE LABOUR PROBLEMS. During the coming year ho thought that it would be incumbent upon them, also, in conjunction with other employees of labour on the waterfront, to bring about some settlement—not of a temporary, but of a permanent character—in regard to the waterside labour problem. He was hopeful that if only the Harbour Board and all other employers of the waterside workers were sincere in the desire to make things better, there was no real reason why they could not come to an amioable arrangement’ by which the difficulties! would be overcome for the future. Those were the principal matters the board would nave to deal with. _ There were other matters of great importance, no doubt, but they could discuss them at future meetings. He thanked the members of the board Jpeartily and sincerely for the confidence they had placed in him. Mr Bennett said that the new mem-' bers realised the magnitude pf the work before them, and recognised that the board would have to call very largely upon the. human element to enable it to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement in connection with its staff; .and with labour on the water front generally.- He asked the chairman and the older members of the

board to extend to the new members the sympathy and support they required. Messrs M. Cohen and C. E. Daniell were chosen to represent the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts respectively on the wharves and accounts committee. The following members were appointed as the committee for the investment of sinking funds and special reserve funds:—Messrs Daniell, Turrell, Norwood, Mitchell. J■ B. McEwau, Bennett, and Captain McArthur.