THE OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16480, 4 September 1915, Page 5

THE OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Sir,—For some considerable time we have been accustomed to read glowing accounts of the Harbour Board's affairs, as given •by members and officials. The last few meetings, however, seem to me to oonvey a very diiferent impression. On reading the reports of these one •is struck at the manner in which various important matters arc dia-

cussed. It is regrettable -that there should be apy foundation for the rumours which have been in the air as to the feeling of personal animosity that exists between certain sections of the board. For a number of years I have watched closely the development of the various works undertaken. My opinion, although only that of a layman, is this: that the board has been attempting too many works at one time; and now we are told that it ie more than probable that its dredges will be laid up and a number of men paid off. What is the policy of the board as regards the upper and lower harbours? I take it that if we in Otago going to keep abreast of the other principal ports in the dominion we must be prepared to cater for any ship that riiay come to our shores; and as one comes, to consider the policy, of the board as far as the'upper harbour is concerned, one is compelled to ask: Is it its policy to cater only for the intercolonial and coastal .vessels coming, to the harbour? If so,; that has been accomplished, but at what cost!, A chairman of the board recently stated 'that the board had already spent three million pounds, in the upper harbour. It is a modest estimate. Anyhow, it has . put a, debt on the .board for. interest alone of close on £50.000 a year. ' ' Just think. of it! £1000 every week to be provided for interest! And still the board is crying out. like the- daughter of the horse leech for more. Only another £100j000 tHis time. No doubt the Bill, which is now before the House, will go through in due course, adding another £5000 a year to the £50,000 yearly interest bill; and in the: course of- the next few- years, say, three years- at the outside, the new loan will be Then the members of the board, whose great hobby it is "to keep the men employed at all hazards," will again begin to resolutions for a further loan, and so on. When is it going to stop? And, again, what will have been accomplished? t . ■ Nothing is surer than this: that the tonnage of the ships vising this dominion, and therefore their draught, is increasing so., rapidly that the board cannot hope to take these vessels up to Dunedin. After the war stiir larger ships will be built. The public knows this. Only the board, it appears, is blind to facts and keeps on pending, spend-, ing in the upper harbour, piling up its Jong reckoning and increasing the dues. Will it never wake up to the faots -^^^ Port Chalmers, September 2..