THE PORT OF OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1932, Page 19 (Supplement)

THE PORT OF OPUNAKE

EXPENDITURE OPPOSED

POLICY OF THE NEW MEMBERS.

MR. J- A- PETTIGREW CHAIRMAN.

That, they were strongly opposed to any further expenditure on the harbour but would use their utmost endeavours to make the burden for the ratepayers as light as possible was made clear by Messrs. W. A. Sheat and J. S. Hickey, two of the newly-appointed members of the Opunake Harbour Board, yesterday during a discussion on the election of chairman at the annual meeting of the board. Immediately the clerk called for nominations for the position of chairman, Mr. T. P. Hughson, the retiring chairman, nominated Mr. J. A. Pettigrew, remarking that he had had considerable experience as a member. Mr. Pettigrew declined to accept the position and nominated Mr. Hughson. Mr. R. C. Watson seconded.

Mr. Hughson, however, definitely declined to accept nomination. He had had a long term of office and had decided that he could not accept the position any longer as he had several other matters to attend to, he said. He considered it was a position for e, younger man, and hoped that Mr. Pettigrew would reconsider his decision. Mr. Pettigrew said he was not looking for the position. Mr. Sheat nominated Mr. Hickey. Mr. Hickey said he had no ambition to secure the position, but on principle he would accept it. He would oppose the election as chairman of any member who had a part in expending any of the money that had been spent on the harbour. For that reason only, and not on personal grounds, he would have opposed the re-election of Mr. Hughson, because after the ratepayers had intimated that there should be no further expenditure the b'oard had expended a further £lB,OOO or £20,000.

OBJECTION TO EXPENDITURE.

.Mr. Sheat said that was his reason for proposing Mr. Hickey, whose views he endorsed. He, too, was opposed to the expenditure that had taken place, and was determined to stop any further expenditure. Mr. Watson seconded. On being appealed to again Mr. Pettigrew saul he did not want the position, but as there appeared to be some feeling over the matter he would let it go to the vote. He would have prelerred to see Mr. Hughson re-elected.

Mr. Watson said he had seconded Mr. Hickey’s nomination thinking that Mr. Pettigrew had declined nomination. On the motion of Messrs. Hughson and Watson Mr. Pettigrew was elected chairman, Messrs. Hickey and Sheat opposing. Mr. Pettigrew said he was sensible of the responsibility of the position rather than of the honour. The position of the harbour was not satisfactory as far as the'' working of the port was concerned. Unfortunately the ratepayers had not shown sufficient interest to nominate sufficient candidates to have an election, so that they had not been able to obtain the views of the ratepayers. Now that he had been placed in the position of chairman he would expect the support of members as there were one or two very important matters that would have to be dealt with during their term of office, including the renewal of the loan which fell due in May, 1933.

Mr. Hickey said that the chairman could b» assured of his hearty co-oper-ation except in anything that necessitated further expenditure on the harbour.

Mr. Sheat said there had been nothing personal in his action, but he held that a big matter of principle was involved. In so far as the board was prepared to do its utmost to make the burden as light as possible on the ratepayers and avoid all expenditure on the harbour he would give support. Mr. Hickey was unanimously elected deputy-chairman.

COMMITTEES APPOINTED.

Committees were appointed as follows; Finance, Messrs. Sheat, Hughson and chairman; works, Messrs. G. Prosser, the Government nominee when appointed and the chairman; reserves, Messrs. Hickey, and the chairman.

Mr. Sheat asked whether there was an annual report for submission to the meeting. The retiring chairman stated that, as there was to be an election and there was the possibility of a fresh board bciiif elected he had presented his report 0 at last meeting, and it had been published. Mr. Sheat said he had read that report, which dealt mostly with ancient history and did not give the present financial position. Most of the ratepayers were in the dark as to whether the port was paying its way or getting further into debt, or whether the arrears of rates were being allowed to pile up. The chairman pointed out that the financial year ended on September 30. The clerk said he would prepare a financial statement for submission to members. Rates had come in as well this year as last year. The interest dye in May totalling £l6OO had been paid, and the overdraft was now £l7OO. All outstanding rates had been placed, in the hands of the solicitor for collection.

Mr. Hughson referred to minor matters that needed attention, including bolts for two stays in the piles at the cud of the wharf.

Mr. Hickey said he recognised that they muet face small expenditure to preserve their assets. He was, however, against expending money on the wharf, excepting such as was necessary, to maintain it until the board had decided its policy. He held that the board should consider realising on the staging, which was now obsolete for the purpose intended. It contained a lot of valuable timber which should be dis-, posed of before it went out to sea, which they had been led to believe would happen ultimately. At the next meeting the board would have to go thoroughly into the question and bring down a definite policy. Mr. Sheat said that he was of the same opinion. He would be opposed to expending even the price of a couple of bolts on the wharf to keep it. as a. wharf, but if it was a question of preserving it until they decided what to do with it the position was different. He also favoured small expenditure for protecting their assets. He made it definite that he would not support any expenditure for the maintenance of the harbour as a harbour, because he did not consider it was a harbour, or ever would be. He regarded it as a. collection of timber, iron, etc., which should be protected till they decided what tliey intended to do with it.