WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 10

WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

INCREASED CHARGES. ' WELLINGTON, March 24. Yesterday Mr R. Fleecher, chairman of the Harbour Board, moved that the Harbour Board should adopt a new scale of charges. He said this question was before the board some 18 months ago, and it was then agreed to defer consideration of the subject for some time. Then came the matter of finance, and the necessity of facing the position with candour. JTh© tonnage had fallen away, and the revenue had decreased. He qxioted figures to show that since last October the foreign tonnage on the whole had diminished. He did.not think that any improvement in trade would come till after the spring had arrived. The proposed new tariff had been passed at a special meeting of the board recently. The chairman acknowledged indebtedness to the board's officers in arranging a new fair scale of charges. He hoped that the

members of the board would guard against such foolish expenditure as had been incurred in the past. During the coming two years the board would have to be careful, and the watchwords should be " Economy with efficiency." Personally lie was against increasing the charges to shipping, but the board was in the position that it could no* help it&eif. Notwithstanding the "ncreased charges, the port of Wellington would retain its superiority by reason of the facilities offered. If the position had been faced six months ago it would have been better for the port. Perhaps it would be possible in the near future to reduce the scale of- charges which he recommended, should be adopted. The schedule which Mr Fletcher recommended showed an increase of £17,640, of which, merchants would be asked to provide £9473 and chips £8167. In seconding the motion, Mr M. Cohen said he shared the feelings, of the chairman. It was for the board to show that it was doing justice to all. He could not see that any other solution of the difficulty Wflfi possible. Mr 0. W. Jones, as a shipping representative, said he admitted that increased charges were inevitable, and he therefore supported the chairman's proposal. He believed, however, that the board should seriously consider the question of securing greater economy in the working of the port Mr J. G. Harkners, supporting the scheme as a whole, remarked that it was fair and eauitable.

Mr J. W. M'Ewan contended that a complete reorganisaiioai of the (board's affairs was necessary. Mr T. M. Wilford said lie thought the table of figures could be described as an "equitable equipoise." He did not think the charges should have been pub on before the present time, but it had been recognised that the rearrangement had to come. I);r Newman said he wished to congratulate the chairman on' his heroism. In his opinion the new scheme should have been carried out long ago. The consumer would have to pay for the increased imposts generally. He blamed) the extravagance of the past for the present position. He had made out a list of £425/300 of uniTecessairy works undertaken by the''board. Under all the circumstances, he believed the chairman's move Was a right one. In reply, the chairman remarked that he regretted that the board had lost eight of the " fat months " of the year before getting the new scheme into >peration. The motion was carried unanimously.