Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2419, 6 February 1909, Page 6

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE GISBORNE HARBOR DISTRICT. TN offering our services on the GisJL borne Board, we have ■ueokleu, at the suggestion of a number of yqur fellow- Electors, Ito express; our views on what may bo regarded* as the most important .question affecting the Harbor administration. Ist. We are in favor of N a good Outer Harbor, and we consider the time now opportune to have the question submitted to the Ratepayers for their consideration. 2nd. We are in favor of adhering to the lines of the. new administration of the Board, by which the rate has been avoided, and the wharfage charges payable by the people have been reduced, and to still further continue that' policy when the Outer Harbor is constructed,. So that the charges on the shinping will be increased in proportion to the facilities rendered. 3rd. Wo are determined to avoid Hie possibility of re-establishing a ’HM’inaiient rate. 4th. To as far as ■nossiblo conserve Hie funds of flic Board for an Outer ! (arbor, but we consider the river \ould be maintained availablo for the present river traffic. We are, yours obediently, DUNCAN HEPBURN. F. HARRIS. . W. L. REES. T. ADAIR. * HARBOR BOARD ELECTION. TO THE COUNTY RATEPAYERS. J A DI.IIIS AND GENTLEMEN,— 3.J I. have had" tlic honor of representing the County on the Harbor Board for the past ten yeans, and confidently come before you again as one ay ho has studied your best interests in the past. When last elected, in 1906, I was assured by many of my supporters that if I used my best endeavors to prevent tlie. then present rate of 3d in the £ for the County from being increased. I would ho meeting their wishes satisfactorily. I have fully kept my pledge on this point- by joining the progressive party on the Board and abolishing, the rate, I hope for good, and all, without impairing the finances of the Board. I am a strong advocate for the outer harbor scheme being placed before the ratepayers, as I am convinced that this great work can be undertaken without any risk of having to strike a rate, as I am strongly opposed to the Harbor Board ever striking a rate again, unless for a very pressing or temporary need. The soundness of the progressive policy adopted by a bare majority of only one in tlie Board is conclusively proved by the fact that for two years we have, had no rate to .pay, and have enjoyed practically a reduction of 50 per cent on the wharfages, which, in contrast with tlie term ending 1906, shows a direct saving to the ’people in the last two veers of £27,800.

It will bo seen by a financial statement compiled by Messrs Witty and Coleman, secretary and auditor of the Board, and approved by the Finance Committee and the Board, that !if this same policy is followed, we can raise sufficient to expend £350,000 on the on tor harbor, as well as pay off the balance of £50.000 remaining doc of the old Harbor loan of £200,000, and £4OOO per annum for the administration of the new outer harbor, without any financial strain whatever requiring to bo met by striking rates or any increase in the present wharfages, the shipping alone being charged £SOOO per annum extra for their increased facilities when the harbor is complete. Trusting that I may merit a continuance of your confidence, and assuring you of my best endeavors to work in and for your interests, I remain, Yours resp ectfully. D. HEPBURN.

HARBOR ELECTION. TO THE BOROUGH . ELECTORS. J ADIES AND~GENTLEMEN J_J • In again becoming a candidate for yoUr suffrages, I beg to point out that I havo 3»cld_ a seat on your Board since May, 1907, when ]. took office at a very critical period m the Board’s administration, as the new policy of taking the charges off the people and putting it on the shipping., while, having been adopted by the . Board . the previous month, awaited Confirmation. I recognis'ed that this now policy depended on which way I gave my vote, as the sitting members of the Board wore equally divided on the question. Hav-' ing examined the new, policy very carefully, and being satisfied that it was sound and meant a largo monetary saving to the people, I supported it, with the result that whilst the finances of the Board are sound today. the people of this town and district have been relieved of ratos for' the past two years, which moans a saving of over £20,000 in that time, as well as having their wharfages reduced by over £3OOO a year. The; soundness of this policy is shown by tbo fact that a concession of over £IOOO a year has been made to the intercolonial boats on tlic new tariff without at all interfering in an v way . with the sound financial position of ; the Board. Mr Marchant’s design for an outer harbor has been practically approved of by the greatest modern harbor experts. Sir John Coodo and Sons, as suitable for Gisborne. The Harbor Board have been in conflict over the question of placing the proposal before the people, and, although it is shown to be financially sound and not endangering a rate, they stop its being brought to the poll by a marjority of one. I feel that I am justified in assuring you, on the careful estimates of Messrs Witty and T. A. Coleman, that with the increased shipping charges, which is possible, because Gisborne, with the new shipping tariff, is • now one of the cheapest ports, of. entry in the Dominion for shipping companies, as the increased revenue of the port and the substantial income from _ Tauwihareparae (the lease of which falls 'in shortly), will provide ample income to meet the general administration of the 'Board and the interest on the cost of construction and maintenance of the outer, harbor without anv rate being required. - If-elected, I will give my. best endeavors to safeguard your interests, and trusting to be favored with a continuance of your confidence, - I am, ■ ' . Yours respectfully. F. HARRIS.