WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143788, 11 May 1912, Page 7

WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The ordinary meeting of tho above board was held on Thursday. Present: Messrs. W. F. Jenkins (chairman), J. Hino, J, Smith, J. Ratteubury, It. T. Hicks, and \Y. Birdling. After the minutes of the lost ordinary and annual meetings had been confirmed, tho Chairman said that before tho correspondence was taken he wished to make a lew remarks ro statements made by Mr. Hine at tho annual meeting. Referring to the statement that the present board had not carried out the work ns cheaply as its predecessors, Mr. Hiue, he said, should have given more data if he desired to bo fair. In stating chat the working had been more expensive, speaking in regard to salaries and wages, ho omitted to tell the public that in previous balance-sheets the pilot’s salary was included in the ordinary wages, and that the previous board bad Lamg’s services, not only as pilot, but as an ordinary labourer in the shed, thus making it appear that the cost of tho pilot station for wages was only £75. He did not say that tho items of wharfages, rents, pilotage, port charges, and berthage had decreased, not because less business had been done, but for the reason that fewer vessels came to the port with more cargo than in tho previous year, in spite of the fact that practically no wool came to hand. Reference to the 1910 balance-sheet would show that wharfage was £TO9 less than in 1911, or, in round figures, there was an increase of 1000 to 1100 tons of cargo as against 1910. This, of course, necessitated increased labour, cto., and partly accounted for the apparent additional cost. Summarised, tho sum paid for salaries for 1910 was £S2G, inclusive of I.aing’s salary as pilot, whilst for 1911 tho amount was only £l3l, which amount included £6l 18s 4cl paid to the late secretary since,the appointment of tho present one. Briefly, it meant that £9-5 less has been paid on the whole of the salaries, mid deducting ill addition tho £64 odd, a saving of £159 had been effected. In so far as labour and sundries were concerned, Mr Hine might have been fair and admitted- that lalxnir had to he found in tho shed to replace the work done by Laiug, that tho additional 100 tons of cargo cost more to handle, that £’3l 10s was paid to Mr. Reynolds for his (services, £l2 for painting the pilot station, and in addition the present hoard had control only during nine months of the year. When all these items were taken into consideration tho public would bo able to judge for themselves as to whether this hoard was (as stated by Mr. Hine) not carrying out its duties in a proper and efficient manner. Ono other matter he wished to refer to was a remark by Mr. Hiuo at the second meeting that ho (the chairman) had made tho statement that the hoard was making a loss over wool-dumping. This was entirely wrong, as ho never made such a statement in regard to dumping in ordinary working hours. Ho did ask if Mr. Hine expected the board to lose money by tho continual payment of overtime. When the rate was fixed between tho hoard and the company wages were less than at the present time, whilst tho amount of wool was considerably below that now received, and the necessity for overtime was then not anticipated, therefore never taken into consideration when the agreement '''Mia Hine considered that the statement just road by the chairman should have been placed before the members at the last meeting. However he presumed he might take credit for having drawn the chairman. ith reference to the figures just quoted what did they amount to. If! If! Like Richard IT!., he might well say “Answercst thou me witli If.” “If the amount paid in salaries had been loss then the cost of administration would not have been so great.” This is the stupendous fact that the chairman complains that ho (Mr. Hinei did not place before his colleagues. Continuing, Mr. Hino remarked that he thought members would have been aware of such a self-evident fact without any reminder from him. The figures given by himself at the last meeting wore absolutely correct and he repeated that tho cost of administration for 1911 was £IOB6 as against £999 for 1910, and he challenged the chairman to refute them. With reference to Mr. Hicks’ declaration nt last meeting that the board was not after economy. Mr. Hine said he did not know if Mr. Hicks was authorised to speak for the other members, but personally lie (Mr.- Hine) was much pained to hoar him make the statement, for economy is a very desirable object, and if Mr. Hicks and his colleagues have failed to obtain it nt tho first attempt they should philosophically bear their disappointment and not petulantly repudiate the worthy sentiments with which they were onco animated. Mr. Hicks stated that Mr.'- Hine’s statements were not correct. What lie said was that the board should pay tho men who do tho work and not those who do nothing. He also accused Mr. Hine of getting information at the street corners. The other members of the board did not listen to outside talk, neither did they talk over board matters iu the street. Mr. .Hino asked Mr. Hicks if it was not a fact that he made a statement to him in the public street, and in Mr. Rattenbury’s presence, that economy was required right down from the bridge to tile bench. Is that not street talk? In fact it seemed ns if Mr. Hicks did all his talk in the streets as ho hardly ever opened his mouth at a board meeting. At this stage of the argument tho chairman stated that they would go on with tho business. CORRESPONDENCE. Tho Napier Harbour Board wrote, asking to bo furnished with the lighterage charges at this port. Mr. J. B. Roy wrote, stating that the board could not make use of debentures in obtaining an overdraft from the bank.

The Bank of New Zealand wrote, stating that the arrangement which was made rc overdraft of (£2000) had been cancelled and the debentures were returned as the Auditor-General states that same were not legally issued. Mr. C. K. Stead wrote, asking the hoard to consent to a sub-lease from H. R. George to W. Chadwick.—Granted. Mr. J. B. Roy forwarded leases from the board to H. N. Cossar, J. W. M'Duff and A. W. Ogle, and also asked for board’s consent to assignment of lease W. Sampson to R. Gribbon and sub-lease R. Gribbon to Roy Jury, which was given. The N.Z. Shipping Company wrote, asking the board to reply as soon ns possible re a new lease of woolshed. The chairman slated that there seemed no likelihood of the company building a woolshed and stated that tho board should do all iu their power to keep the trade of the port. However he thought that a substantial rent should ho fixed. A resolution was carried granting tho N.Z. Shipping Company an extension of their prosent lease for throe years, with right of renewal for a further two years at £6O per annum

on the same terms as present lease, providing that the company put in an extra press. Air. J. H. Kibby wrote asking if tho hoard had any sections on the west side of the river which they wanted to lease. He is to be informed that there are no sections to lot. Air. Newton King forwarded a claim for two boxes of butter which were consigned to him by Hutricle and Co,, but had not been forwarded.

Capt. Thompson explained that about October last the Pitoitoi loaded for AVaikawau, but could not land tho goods. The cargo was eventually brought hack to Waitnra and unloaded into the harbour board's shed. Tho two boxes of butter in dispute were consigned hack to Air. Newton King at New Plymouth some time in January, hut, by an oversight, were not forwarded. 'The butter is still lying in the shed.—No action taken. COAIAHTTEES. Air. Hino was appointed a delegate from the hoard to attend a conference at New Plymouth re tho Local Government Bill. Tho hoard endorsee} the resolution passed by the Now Plymouth Harbour Board re same. Tho various committees wore appointed for the current year as follows : AVorks.—Tho whole board. Treasurer.—Air. AV. Birdling. Valuation Committee.—Ajcssrs. Jenkins, Ratteubury, and Birdling. GENERAL. The chairman staled that everything had been salh.f.u-iorily arranged with the shippers ro the recent complaints re handling of cargo in tho shads, and stated that ho_lioned everything would run smoothly in the future. Accounts were pas-,tu lor payment amounting to £225 19s lid. Credit at Bank of isew Zealand, 1-5-12, to £798 7s 7d. Rents duo and accounts, 1-5-12, £303 15s.