GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 16

GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

WELLINGTON, March 25. Owing to a drop in the revenue through a decreased quantity of coal passing ovelr its the finances of the Grey l mouth Harbour Board are in such a position that members of the board appealed to the Minister of Marine for assistance from the Government. . The Cabinet considered the question, and Mr Wilford made a statement as to what the Government is going to do.

" The question of the relation of the Railway Department to the board has not yet been gone into," he said, "but the Cabinet has decided that in the meantime and until legislation can be provided and a policy decided upon the Government will assist thi board to carry on until the end of August on the basis of the estimates of the amount required according to the representations made to me by the board. This means that the Government puts itself behind the board until the end of August, It is ho final decision, for on the contrary the policy, to be carried out in relation to the. whole question has yet to be considered with a view to the preparation of legislation to provide for the permanent policy of the Government. The board at present owes the Government £360,000 an* some £14,200 in arrears of interest, and through the drop in the coal traffic its revenue to-day, notwithstanding careful management—because we are all satisfied that it has been careful In the past two years—will not pay its interest and ordinary management expenses; consequently it has to ask the Government to assist it or take over the port.. Mr Wilford indicated that the amount involved in backing the board with th« bank would probably be about £2500.