HARBOUR BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10197, 5 July 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

LYTTELTON. The Lyttelton Harbour Board met today ; presentr—Messrs Jti. Friedlander (chairman), G. Laurenson, M.P., A. Kaye, M. J. Miller, R, Moore, C. Allison, C. Cook, J. J. Dougall, F. Horre.ll, J. Storry, J, IX Boag, J. Lambie, T. B- Taylor, M.P., and Dr Thacker. NEW MEMBERS. The chairman welcomed Messrs Storry, Boag and Dougall as newlyappointed members of the Board. On the motion of Mr F. Horrell, a motion appreciative of the services of Mr W. Dunlop, as a member of the Board, was carried. Mr Taylor said the Board was to be congratulated unon at last having secured as a member a gentleman of the legal profession. He did not believe lawyers should be allowed to dominate a public body, but they were distinct acquisitions so long as there was not too many of them. Mr Dougall thanked the Board for its kindly reception, and paid a tribute to Mr W. Dunlop's services. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that since last meeting the following sums had been paid into me harbour fund account:Wharfage, x,399b" 9s 9d; pilotage and port charges, £2126 19s Sd; towage, storage, etc., £1362 6s sd; a total of £7485 15s lOd, as compared with £6323 lis 9d for the corresponding period last year. The bank book showed the current account to be in credit £11,092 2s 6d. ENGINEERS REPORT. The engineer reported for the period between June 2 and June 30, that during this period the dredge Manchester had been engaged at the outer channel, whence she had removed a quantity of 33,668 tons, the whole of which had been deposited in Little Port Cooper. The weather during this period had been unusually boisterous, so that on three days it was impossible to work the dredge. During the same period the grab-dredge Tewhaka had been engaged at the Gladstone wharf outer arm, and at No. 7 jetty east side. The quantity of material lifted, had been 5400 tons, the whole of which had been deposited in the reclamation area. In view of the early completion of the west side of No. 7 jetty, both the MatV Chester and the Tewhaka would next week commence dredging in connection with -providing a depth of 30ft at extreme low water at that berth, and arrangements were being made for fitting up boring and blasting plant for dealing with the hard bottom at the inner ends of all the berths. In spite of the exceptionally heavy weather the tip-head of the reclamation bank had advanced about 40ft during the month, and now extended .a distance of 810 ft from the end of the western mole. At the same time, a commencement had been made with filling in an area between the turn-out of the reclamation bank and the western mole to make room for a blacksmith's shop to serve the reclamation works, and the new dredge which would berth at the wharf just inside this point. The improvements to the western half of No. 7 jetty were well advanced. The mooring piles were being trimmedj and the upper decking laid. ,■ The Railway Department had pushed on with laying the rails as far as it was able at present, but the district engineer stated that the tramway points were not expected until the end of August. They could get on with the work to a certain extent, leaving room for them, and the wharf should do ready for use at the end of September. Tenders had been called for the material for improving the eastern half of this jetty. The landing-steps* for motor-boats at theend of the low-level breastwork were ready for use. All the old unclaimed boilers and other unsightly objects on the breakwaters had been dumped into the reclamation area by means of the old Priestman punt, which was now available for her new duties in connection with boring and blasting. Messrs Stevens and Co. had satisfactorily completed their contract for the construction of eight life-saving reels, five of which were ready for and took part in the recent Coronation procession. No action had yet been taken by the owners of the hulk Kestrel towards raising the vesel. which was a menace to navigation.

11l reply to Mr Allison, the engineer stated tbat the blasting and boriny plant would involve an expenditure or about £-500. There was not a great deal of blasting to be done. Mr Taylor said that no one would to able to deny, after the work was done, that it was a " blasted harbour." The report was adopted, THE PRIME MINISTER, The action of the chairman in cabling congratulations to Sir Joseph Ward on his elevation to a baronetcy was confirmed. ■•* Messrs Moore and Dougall said they did not desire to dissent from the chairman's action, but personally they did not consider the matter was one for congratulation. FINANCIAL. The Finance Committee reported recommending the following accounts for payment:—General account £2893 15s 3d, dredging account £1998 7s 2d; total £-1392 2.s od. The committee recommended the investment of £2400 of the accrued sinking fund in the purchase of 4} per cent debentures of the Christchurch Tramway Board, Ha«kthorne Road loan (£2400) at £lO2 10s each. The loan would mature in 1931. As the payment of the third instalment dn the new dredge was due about September 15, the committee recommended that the sum of £4750 (12$ per cent under contract) should bo remitted by a thirty days' draft at par. As £6OOO interest on the £200,000 loan was due in December, the committee recommended that the amount should be remitted by a sixty days', draft (less discount) in September.

The report was adopted. THE RATES ON WOOL. A deputation from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, headed by Mr F. E. .(ones (president) waited on the Board in regard to the wharfage rate on wool, which last year was raised by the Board from 6d to Is per bale. Mr Jones said that tho tardiness of the Chamber's action in the matter was duo to an oversight. Members hat! not until recently realised that the rate was increased. The increase of the rate on wool by 100 per cent, while other increases were at much less percentages, was quite inequitable. The members of the Chamber could see no reason why wool should be discriminated against in framing charges. The impression they got on looking at the tariff was that the Board put on the price simply because it thought dealers with wool could afford it. Tho present increase meant a tax on tho farming community of about £2OOO a year. Tho Chamber considered these charges should be so fixed as to encourage trade. In Wellington the rate worked out 8d per ton measurement or 2s per tea weight on wool, *.« against 2s Sd per ton for general merchandise. With the exception of the Thames and Timaru. the Lyttelton Harbour Board had the heaviest charges on wool in New Zealand. They Mould ask the Board to consider the position, and, if possible, reduce the charge. Mr W. W. M-acfarlane spoke on ba-

half of the Sheep Owners' Association, emphasising that wool had been, unjustly taxed oy the tariff. The sheep owners bad no way, ho said, of passing on the charge. Mr Wilfred Hall, speaking on behalf of the Fanners' Union, said that tha rates should no* bo considered as taxation, but should he proportionate to services rendered. In reply to Mr Taylor, Mr F. R. Jones said he considered that the increased rate had its effect on the price of wool. Every factor was considered in fixing values. Mr Macfarlane said that they expected the Government to pick out their land for special taxation, but they did not expect the Harbour Board to pick out their wool for taxation. The chairman said that jf wool wers reduced, the charge would have to be made up on some other item. They had to have a certain amount of revenue. The Board was trying to do justice to all classes, importers and exporters. In reply to Mr Laurenson, Mr Hall said he did not argue that the value of a commodity should not be taken into consideration when fixing rates of charges. The Boards however, ftad a right only to charge for services rendered, and should chaTge no more for a ton of silks and satins than for a ton: of coal. The chairman proceeded -to quote figures showing the increases made in various charges. Dr Thacker said he must rise to a point of order. They should not discuss the question with the deputation. The chairman said ho would rule Ik 1 Thacker out of order. Dr Thacker said the chairman was in the wrong. It was for the Board to consider the matter after the deputation had withdrawn. He did not see how he was out of order, All the Board had any light to do was to ask questions of members of the deputation.

Mr Kaye gave some details of th« manner in which the rates were allotted, but this drew a strong protest from Mr Taylor, who said he must object to a full discussion of the matter before the deputation. In reply to Mr Taylor, Mr F. ©. Jones said there wag no suggestion that the Board ought to wait till the price of wool came down before making any alteration. The Board had no right to consider questions of price. The deputation then thanked the Board and withdrew. The matter was referred to the Har* hour Improvement Committee. DONATIONS AND SALARIES. The Harbour Improvement Committee reported having authorised the expenditure of the following sums in connection with the Coronation celebrations in pursuance of the powers vested in the Board under Section 29 of tha Appropriation Act, 1910:-—The sum of £2OO to be contributed towards tha erection of a suitable home fo*r con? sumptive incurables as a Coronation memorial; the sum of £SO to be granted to the British and Foreign Sailors* Society towards the cost of erecting a, seamen's institute at Lyttelton, to b« used for the purpose of carrying on mission and social work of an undenominational nature amongst seamen visiting the port; the Board's engineer to be authorised to expend the mvo> of £lO in illuminating the Harbour Board's offices at Lyttelton. The committee having carefully considered the whole of the staff salaries, recommended that clause I of the Harbour Improvement Committee Report 192, of March 30, 1910, should he rescinded, and that increases should ba granted, dating from March 1, 19H, on the salaries of certain members of the staff, aggregating £356 7s per annum.

The committee had approved of the: proposed industrial agreement arrived at by the conference of local bodies and the Canterbury Labourers' Union, bub considered that the Union's proposals relating to preference, travelling time, under-rate workers and term or agreement should not be agreed to, and that the Board should take no action in connection with the conference called ta confirm the agreement. The committed recommended that th© upper Governor's Bay jetty should be repaired, at a cost of £250, on condition thai the Herbert County Council agreed to pay 6 per cent per annum for twenty years on the cost of these repairs. The committee could not recommend tha Board to entertain the proposal for extending the jetty, nor having a channel dredged to deep water. The committee recommended that the Lyttelton Stevedores' Union should be informed of the great inconvenience and loss sustained by the Board, in con* •sequence of work being suspended on February 20, tho occasion of the Steve; dores' - "Union's annual picnic, and that the Union should be asked to arrange matters, so a's to avoid this inconvenience in future. In reply to a letter from the High Commissioner, London, tbe committee recommended that a cablegram should bo sent to London that the tugboat Canterbury would be called the Lyttelton, in order that the new suction dredge might be registered the Canterbury by the Board of Trade, London. Mr Taylor moved as an amendment that a- universal in ease of o per cent should be made in the salaries of all members of the staff receiving under £175 a year. The salaries of the higher-paid officials had been'raised, and the men working for a wage ought to be considered. Ho would not s»y the engineer did not carry ,out his duties as well as any member of the staff, but the engineer did not a« » rule, he thought, do much work for the Board after three o'clock in tfee afternoon. The amendment was seconded by Mr Cook. The chairman suggested that tlw whole matter should be referred baei to th© committee. Mr Kaye said Mr Taylor's remaitf about tlie engineer were in very b«fl taste. Ho deprecated comparisons between high officials of the Board ana workers whose wage 3 were fixed hy awards and legislation. He was the matter should have been brou|jbt forward in such a manner. The chairman moved and pr Thackor seconded that tho matter should be- referred back to tbe Harbour Improvement Committee. Mr Allison opposed this proposal m the grounds that the matter had already received full consideration, »fid the wages of all employees compared Ifcvourably with tnose paid elsewhere. The chairman's motion was carried. The report, with the exception of th© matter of salaries, was adopted. BOAT HARBOUR AT SUMNER. The special committee set up to consider the matter of boat accommodation near "Whitewash Head, Sumner, reported that it had proceeded to "Whitewash Head and had inspected the site proposed to be improved for the landing and shipment of goods, and for bo*t and yacht accommodation, the Mayor of Simmer and Messrs Marquet and Hobday being present, also tho secretary and treasurer and the engineerIt had been decided that the engineer should be asked to prepare a plan ol the locality and report thereon. The Mayor of Sumner also undertook to fOrnish the special committee with details of the. quantity and description of goods likely to bo landed and shipped, if the suggested harbour accommodation ware carried into effect. The committee therefore asked for an extension of time- to enable it to fully consider this question and to report to the Board at a future meeting. Mr H. J. Man-iner. Mayor of Samuel, wrote furnishing full statistical Information in regard to the locality. Tho letter was received and the report adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. Lieutenant H. Penneli, of the Terra Nova, wrote thanking the Board for assistance afforded in storngo. berthage ">■>(] dook'K"

' An application by th© Hoathcoto Comity Council tor permission to put Home sheath piling along the south bank of the Avon was considered, and it was stated by tbe chairman that the Board had uo jurisdiction over the river above high-water mark. It was decided, however, that the engineer should inspect tho site. An application by the Sumner Borough Council for permission to build » ba-tIT on the Board's reserve outside the inner end of tho approach to the Sumner jetty, on tho south sido, -was granted. Mr G. Laurenson, M.P., moved that the matter of constructing a retainingwall from the upper end of the reclamation works should bo referred to tho Harbour Improvements Committee. The jnotion was seconded by Mr C. Cook and carriedIn reply to Pr Thacker, the engineer said the cost pf the present retainingwall was about £ll & foot. My Laurenson moved that an honoi> ariuni of £2OO should be allowed to tho chairman, in accordance with recent legislation. Tbe chairman said he would not oppose the motion. The honorarium was legally allowed to chairmen, and ho recognised that bv refusing it ho would be setting a bad precedent Avhich would operate perhaps to the disadvantage of Jns successors in the chair. The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Laurenson, the engineer was instructed to investigate and report' on methods of obviating water lying on the wharves in wet wea--1 iei ' THE CANAL SCHEMES. Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., was granted permission to hold over his motion—"That the commercial aspect of the canal scheme of Mr Cvrus Williams, as reported upon by Messrs Coode, Son and Matthews, and of the alternative proposal of Mr Joshua Little, as recently reported upon by Mr Cyrus Williams, be investigated and reported upon bv two or more competent New Zealand Harbour Board authorities, and that any resolution of the Board conflicting with this motion be rescinded," Hutu next meeting, in order that new members of the Board might have an opportunity of considering the matter before voting upon it. Mr Taylor said that if the motion was carried he would follow it up by nominating three genetlemen to aot with Mr C, three gentlemen to act with Mr C. commercial aspects of the question. THE PILOT SERVICE. Mr C. Cook moved— il That the Harbour Improvement Committee should consider tho question of rearranging the pilot service, with a view to increasing the number of officers." He said that the acting-harbourmaster had to leave, his office frequently to pilot ships, and he thought a junior pilot should be appointed. Mr Horroll said that there had been no complaints of overwork front the pilots. On the suggestion of Mr Kaye, it was deeided £hat tho committee should consider tho question of appointing an acting harbourmaster. The motion was carried. The meeting adjourned till August. 2 at 11 at Chratehurch.