HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19465, 28 April 1925, Page 8

HARBOUR BOARD.

ADDRESS BY MR J. LOUDON. An address was delivered in the Express Company’s board room last night by Mr John Loudon (candidate for the Otago Harbour Board). Mr C. IV. Hayward presided over a fair attendance and introduced the candidate. Mr Loudon, who emphasised some of his points with the aid of a large scale map showing tho whole harbour from the entrance to Dunedin, prefaced his remarks by pointing out that, the Harbour Board was an institution second only • to the City Council. Speaking of finances, he said that the board’s total indebtedness was £1,039,300, the ■ revenue for the year £161,625, and tho expenditure .£143,506. Considerable discussion had been raised as to the absence of any sinking fund on the harbour loans, but the board had a freehold estate let and uniat worth approximately £750,000, which brought, an income at present of £13,C00, so that, after all, it was a sound institution. The three sources of revenue wore the dues on goods, dues from ships, and rent. Referring to the harbour work, the speaker explained that the erection of two moles had been suggested by Sir John Goode at the entrance, one from the north head and the other from the south. Tho northern one, which had been completed, was a half-tide wall, but on account of erosion it had sunk a good deal, and it was felt that, it had lost ai degree of its efficiency. To renew this wall was one of the big expenses facing the board at the present time. From the Heads to Port Chalmers tho channel was 300 feet wide with a minimum depth of 30 feet, though tho greater part was considerably deeper than that. However, a chain was as strong as its weakest link. From Port Chalmers to Dunedin the width was 140 feet and the minimum depth 20 feet. Continuing, Mr Loudon said that in 1910 the Otago Foreshore Vesting Act vested the greater portion of tho toreshore (that portion belonging to the natives being excepted) with the Harbour Board, and this land had now a wonderful potential vdlue as in time the Port Chalmers line would be straightened and the samll inundations would be reclaimed. -Speaking of the general policy of the board, Mr Loudon said that it was hoped to secure a depth of as near as possible to 40 feet from the Heads to Port Chalmers at least, but the upper channel should not on any account be allowed to go back. Further, it was hoped to secure at. an early date railway connection to the wharves in Dunedin so that produce from the country could be railed up to the ships. At present the board was face to face with the expenditure of a considerable sum on tho Birch street wharf, which was originally intended for vessels of a shallower draught Tho channel, he added, should ho the means of making Port Chalmers, at any rate, a first-class port. The candidate then touched on Logan Park, which had been handed over by the Harbour Board to the city authorities. He could, perhaps, claim the credit of being the primary mover in this step, for at that time it had appeared to him that, as it was the last remaining area capable of being mad© into a recreation .ground for all time, it should be vested in the city. Subsequently others had come to looic at it in the same light ana the result was that it was handed over. With the Exhibition it would mean that. the city would got in two or three years what might have been stringing on for 30 years. Tho speaker went on to say that it might he argued that the dues of the Otago Harbour Board were Jiigh compared with those of Wellington, Lyttelton, and Auckland, but in those ports they had deep water right up to tho warehouses. Here there wore 17 or 18 miles of water to clear. Endeavours had recently been made to adjust the tariff and reduce the charge on goods of low value and commodities which would increase the productivity of the conn(ry. One of tho chief handicaps was that the board was limited by Statute to a maximum charge of 5s a ton oil goods, so that goods of a high value were charged a disproportionately small amount compared with cheaper goods. The candidate then referred to tho dock at Port Chalmers. .This, he said, was paying proposition, and the deficiency up till last year was about £II,OOO, though it was a known fact that docks did not return revenue. They were, however, essential and they brought considerable trade to the port. Mr Loudon concluded his remarks with a warm tribute to the staff of the Otago Harbour Board. MAYORALTY OF GREEN ISLAND. V At the Concord Church, Burnside, Mr W. T. Kaler (candidate for the mayoralty of Green Island) stated that the borough could well do with someone who understood the needs of the district, and if elected ho would certainly endeavour to have some permanent work carried out in the district, ft would be his aim to effect some improvement to the back street at Concord and to improve the lighting. He sympathised with those who. winter after winter, waded through mud to the railway station. Drainage work would engage his attention, and he would endeavour to obtain reliable information on that question for tho consideration of the council and the ratepayers. It was well known that the funds of the borough were largely used on tho upkeep of tho main road, and he would advocate the soliciting of relief from the Government. If elected, he would give them a new experience—that was, less talking and more improvements.