THE HARBOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 21 June 1927, Page 7

THE HARBOR.

(To the Editor of Uio Herald.) Sir', —I notice Mr. Howard Kenway has relieved his mind, by a long letter in your issue of Saturday last. He wanders along in his usual prolific style, and tells us quite a lot we already know. Considering the very strong part he played in opposing tho original loan proposal, one can forgive him returning to the fray, if only by his naive attempt at censure, he shows how really the joy bells are ringing in his heart, at the state of affairs whidh, apparently, permit only his much-beloved “ inner harbor ” being probable for the outlay of the lotan moneys raised. Mr. Kenway surely realises that when we sanctioned the £750,000 loan the board contracted to supply us with a complete inner chamber harbor capable of accommodating intercolonial vessels, and the fulfilment of that contract was expected. The board, as our agents, have not done what they agreed to do with our money. They say they cannot complete the “ outer harbor ” scheme, owing to tho abnormal outlay to date. Perhaps Mr. Kenwav does his business in a manner which allows a contractor to use up cash ad lib, ami chance the job being completed at the Original estimate. This style, however, does not appeal to me. The estimated cost of our part 1, harbor, under tho Reynolds scheme, was £750,000, and we expected to get that harbor at somewhere near that figure.. The lavish use of. the money has certainly made the original estimate appear too small, and tho probability of further loans being mooted would bo looked upon with suspicion by the ratepayers. It is quite within, tho bounds of possibility that (ho suggested inner basin might, for a short period, meet requirements, but that is not the point at issue. The ratepayers have the right, and wish to know, how and why the board has squandered our moneys, without fulfilling the agreement to give us the “ outer harbor ” scheme. If Mr. Leslie It. Reynolds was correct, when he estimated the outside cost of tho intercolonial vessel harbor would lie £782,000 (vide his report), why has the present administration failed to grasp tho same possibilities. Somebody has blundered : the question is who is going to take the blame? If the board had any true sense of fair play under the circumstances, they Would resign en bloc, and allow the burgesses to show where public confidence really Ties. Wo only ask what we Voted for. and surely wo are acting squarelve in doing so.—T am. etc., RAM .T. PEARSON.