The Opunake Times. Friday, January 18, 1895. HARBOR BOARD FINANCE.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 57, 18 January 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. Friday, January 18, 1895. HARBOR BOARD FINANCE.

A representative of the Inglewood Record waited on Mr Cock, Chairman of the Harbor Board, to obtain particulars of the Board’s finance and confirmation, or otherwise, of certain statements made at the ratepayers’ meeting which was held at Inglewood. The Record deals with the particulars obtained, in a leading article last Wednesday, and certainly received some startling information. Mr Cock wound up the interview by informing the press representive that had he received notice of the meeting, he would have attended, and given those present “ facts instead of imaginary figures.” He is then credited by the press representative with making the following statement:—“ The sinking Fund Commissioners have purchased £28,500 worth of bonds at a cost of £23,000, and have a credit balance in the Bank of £15,000. They have arrears to the extent of 15s in the £ (£21,875) on the sum of £28,500 referred to, due in November last, which in March next will be paid, and go towards swelling the credit balance above mentioned.” The last balance-sheet we have to hand is dated 31st December, 1898, and in it the sinking fund is represented by £27,200 worth of bonds, costing £24,554 15s9d,sothataccording to Mr Cock they must since that date have had £I3OO worth of bonds presented to them, and also some £ISOO of purchase money refunded. The Sinking Fund at 81st December, 1893, had a credit balance in the Bank of £l3O 2s 9d, which Mr Cock now says amounts to £15,000. Where, might we ask, did this £14,869 odd come from to make up the present amount ? After giving this startling information, he then goes on to say: “As to the Sinking Fund mentioned, the Board does not possess such a thing—a question which was settled as the result of an action in the Supreme Court some years ago, but the Board has Trust Commissioners who controlled the balance in hand at the time of the action.” This style of argument is simply delightful. First shows the transactions and huge credit balance of a Sinking Fund, and then cooly turns round and says" there is no Sinking Fund, and this from the gentleman who would have attended the ratepayers’meeting to give those present “facts instead of imaginary figures.”

We quote: “ The condition of the harbor is better than it has ever been, as the Board has sufficient cement and blocks in hand to put the Breakwater in a thoroughly sound condition.” We learn from a gentleman who recently visited the Breakwater that it had all the appearance of collapse ; that one could almost walk out dry-footed to the end of the cattle wharf; and that the harbor generally was admitted by those acquainted with it to be in a- deplorable condition. We wonder if My Cock was present at the meeting of the Board some four mouths back, when damage to the extent of over £SOO was reported after a single gale, and if lie was one of the members of the Board who took steps to get the report of the damage suppressed from the public ? Also, if the harbor is better now than it has ever been, with an increasing wharfage revenue, why an overdraft is necessary for the first time, and why the deputation went to Wellington to try and obtain £IOOO from the Government for urgent repairs and works ?

We quote further: “As to the cost of collecting the rate, Mr Cook said Mr Rennell, the secretary, who had worked as zealously and as economically as was possible in the Board’s interests, said it could not be done for less, and this was the reason why ridings and their attendant paraphernalia had not met with approval.” This suggests the inquiry; “ Who constitutes the Board ?” Is it the elected aud nominated members combined, or is it Mr Rennell ? Fancy Mr Rennell being fool enough to say it could be done for less, while he can extract per cent for doing it out of the long-suffering ratepayers. But also fancy Mr Cock thinking we are fools enough to think that he believed Mr Rennell, if Mr Rennell ever did make such a statement. We know that the clerk to the Waimate Road Board collected the f d county rate for the Hawera County Council for 1 £ per cent., and we consider 1£ per cent would be ample to pay for collection of the harbor rate. We do not see, however, why there should be a multiplication of billets at all. Call applications for the combined offices of secretary, collector, and returning officer, and we are very much mistaken if there will not be a shoal of applicants if the remuneration be hxed at £250 a year. There is a lot of work mere routine, which a lad, at office boy’s wages, could do, and this would allow the chief to undertake other business if ho pleased.

Mr Cook evidently found he was a bit hasty in promising at the last Board meeting that in 1896 the rate would most likely be reduced, as he now says it will depend on the land fund revenue, and finds already in the course of a week that this will moat likely decrease so much that it is improbable a reduction of rate can be effected. We thought when we read about his promised reduction that he was a bit hasty, and that he would require w r atehing, but we did not expect a reversal of his utterances so soon. But so it is. If the country ratepayers want relief, they must return their own men and burst up the ring that runs the show at present.