THE OUTER HARBOR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2091, 28 May 1907, Page 2

THE OUTER HARBOR

ENABLING BILL DISCUSSED

INCIDENCE OF TAXATION

A-great deal of discussion on the proposed outer harbor took place at the meeting of the * Harbor Board yesterday. Messrs Clirisp and Coleman forwarded throe copies of the new Bill with all the machinery provided for raising a loan .of £400,000, j the amount to bo raised at not more than five per cent/ with a sinking fund of one per cent. The sum of £350,000 is for the harbor, and £50,000 to go towards paying off the old loan. The now harbor district I will bo the borough of Gisborne and j the counties of Cook and AVaiapu. The special rate to bo struck is one penny in the £ on the capital value of the whole district, and tho rate :s doublo in the borough to that in the two counties. Tho rate proposed would be an additional one to those already struck. Mr. Sievwright thought it was early to read the Bill. Mr. Eysnar said it should be dealt with as soon as possible. Mr. AVhinray said that tlio works would bo 1 1-3 miles from till© breakwater, and it seemed to him that it was an unfair levy to double the rate in the borough. He thought that people 35 miles out should pay equally with the borough. The latter should not bo saddled with the whole cost. They hoped no very largo rate would be required when tho endowments came in; but still he thought that the borough should not be double-rated. Mr. Lysnar said it was the practice adopted throughout the colony, and he could not see why it should be altered. Ho thought that the taxation should be on the same basis as at present. Mr. Mattliewson asked for the rates for the county. The Chairman said that it was hard the borough should pay £2053 while the counties only paid £5123. If a satisfactory harbor were provided hero all the coast to the East Cape would benefit. He did not see that any portion of the Cook County should be relieved. He did not think that the borough should be double-rated, or that the rates would be as great in the future, as» .ievenue was increasing. A decision was not needed at the present meet-

ing. Mr. Matthewson said that if. they were going to make alterations there was no use going to Parliament. Waiapu was merely a bagatelle. The Secretary said the value of the rates for 190 G was £6182 for the Cook County, £2OS2 for the Borough, and £llBO for Tolaga and Waiapu. The Chairman said there was a lot of work in getting in the amounts due. This was not so at Timaru. The County and Borough Councils collected the various amounts and put them in in one amount to the Board in monthly or quarterly cheques. It saved an immense amount of work and a small payment would be made to the Councils for this work. He thought that in introducing the new Bill it could be done. The wharfage was collected by the Railway Department. It would save an extra clerk and take a lot of work off the Secretary’s hands. Re the rates, the Secretary said the ratepayers in the Borough were 653, iif the Cook County 1407, and in the Tolaga- and Waiapu 277, of which 137 were in Waiapu. The Chairman said that would make a great saving in the collection. Mr. Sievwright suggested that the meeting bo adjourned for consideration.

It was hold that the Bill should be read and considered. , Mr. Lysnar said the enlarged Borough had a capital value of a million and the County was over four millions. The country would be over five millions. It was trivial, a wrong principle, that Motu people should have to pay the same rate as the people in town. It was not so in Oamaru, Timaru, and Napier. The business people made the most out of the harbor.

Mr. Whinray said it was being built for the country people. x Mr. Lysnar said there was £2OOO against £7OOO on the present basis, and if the Borough was going to cavil at this, it would show a bad spirit. Mr. Sievwright proposed that discussion be adjourned rill next week Mr. Whinray stated that if the proportion of payment was to be altered an amendment would be needed. Mr. Sievwright said that if Tolaga was to be left out, they might as well leave Motu out. The Hon. Capt. Tucker disagreed with this because goods could come to Tolaga direct but not to Motu. Mr. Lysnar said that the whole of the wool, etc., from the coast came to Gisborne; only the groceries, etc., came direct. Mr. Lysnar thought that the interest should not exceed 4j per cent.., and the sinking fund i per cent. They should not leave so much for posterity. One-lralf per cent, would bo £2OOO, which lie considered sufficient. Four and a-lialf per cent, with J per cent, for sinking fund should be enough, although they would try and get it cheaper. The Hon. Capt. Tucker, thought they should make it 4 per cent., including sinking fund. Mr. Whinray said that 4 per cent, and i per cent, sinking lund should cover the matter. Mr. Lysnar said the Board should not be tied'to a number of years. The last loan could have been secured later at a less rate. Mr. Matthewson said that £70,000 or £Bo,ooo* should he raised annually. It was decided to alter the interest to 4 per cent., and the sinking fund to J per cent. Mr. Lysnar said that the period should not be fixed. They should have power to renew when they wanted. .

The Chairman said it cut both ways. They should borrow foi a long term if the market was low. Borrowing was expensive. Mr. Matthewson said there was nothing in the Bill to prevent their calling for tenders for the loan. Mr. Sievwright said it was the first time the Bill was before the Board and all sorts of questions and details were being raised. The discussion should be adjourned for consideration. The Chairman seconded Mr. Sievwright’s motion and the discussion was adjourned till Monday, 10th, June.