PORT OF WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2722, 29 January 1910, Page 3

PORT OF WELLINGTON.

HARBOR BOARD POLICY CRITICISED. “THOUSANDS OF POUNDS' WASTED.”

r PlOlt I'lt KBS Ahrociation.! WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. At the monthly meeting of the Harbor Board the Chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.) gave a review of the harbor management and progress during his two years’ tenure of office. The poliev he* said, had been one of caution, with due regard to expansion. Mentioning various matters of finance", he suggested there should be a revaluation of the Board’s assets. On 30th September the balance of assets over liabilities was over £1,000,000. The Chairman instanced one case in which a. property owned by the Board, assessed at £BOOO, was worth £16,000. Regarding interest, the Board paid on loan moneys expended, or waiting expenditure, last year; £27,498, and in addition put aside about £SOOO towards sinking fund. These were the first calls on the Board’s income of £165,442. He thought that the engineer’s commitments for the next year should bo cut down. Even if this was done it would be necessary to secure extra revenue. In regard to the necessary increase, at” present, he explained, it must be remembered that importers and exporters on the one hand, and shipping owners on the other, contributed practically equal. It will, be said, be the aim of the new Board to decide on its policy to provide' its necessary revenue on, an equitable basis between the two. There is still room in some eases for increases, at the same time continuing to maintain the position of the port as the cheapest distributing centre of the Dominion. Mr. R. Fletcher remarked that though revenues had fallen away* the expenditure hod been kept up. The removal of tile Falcon shoal was the only good work done by the Board during the year, but be admitted that some of the works which lie disapproved were legacies from the past. Me described the King’s Wharf as ‘absolutely useless.” He did not know what the Clyde Quay wharf was for. Then there was Miramar. “It is a pity we ever had anything to do with it,” he commented;'“we all recognise that'.now.” There had, lie said, been wasteful expenditure and bad management in tlie past.. Wellington was a natural harbor, but in present appearances it was going to be the dearest port south of the line. Whenever the Board increased its charges against ships in port, the toll would be passed on to the consumer. He protested on the Board’s habit of '-.ring into committee to consider matters of public interest.

Mr. C. W. Jones said the Board had been associated with “a capable, impartial, hard-working chairman.”' He combatted the statement that if the charges against the ships were raised the extra levy could be passed on to tlie public. Dr. Newman (Mayor of Wellington) said lie entirely agreed with the remarks of Mr. Fletcher. “The more I learn of the Board’s business the more I am horrified,” he said. “There has been extravagant expenditure of the deepest dye. It is idle to discuss the fact that when the works now in hand are finished there will be a large taxation on shipping, destroying the liieblood of the i>ort.” He characterised the Petone wharf (£11.000) as “perfectly useless.” Thousands of pounds had been spent on useless cranes lying about the wharves. Then there was tlie large amount fur the useless dock, and the still more extravagant expenditure on Miramar, a waste of money. Dr. Newman submitted that the effect of the charges that will have to lie levied to cover the cost of various enterprises would drive away shipping, and Wellington depended largely on shipping in various respects, especially tlie working oi cargoes. Tlie operations wore not as economical as possible. There were too many heads of departments. The present engineer (Mr. March banks), who had been brought up in a good school, should be made general engineer. Mr. J. G. Hark ness said Dr. Newman was too pessimistic in liis view of the position. The Hon. K. MacDonald was astonished that one with a naturally hopeful temperament like Dr. Newman should have to go into a state of indecision ancl funk respecting the trade of the city. The "Chairman, in reply, said where the Board had erred was in a too easy acquiescence in official reports, and probably that complaint could be cured by greater attention to the detailed reports submitted to the Board. No member of the Board was a practical engineer, and when an officer of the Board handed in a report giving an estimate of the cost of a particular work they thought it must be accepted by the Board. The criticism was not levelled at the administration of affairs, hilt at wrong estimates which had been made and commitments that had al-

ready been incurred. They should let the lesson of the past be a guicTe lor the future. Dr. Newman had been far too pessimistic in his review of the Board’s affairs. It could not be said that the Board had lost its head during a time of trouble, for it had not created one new work that* could not openly be discussed, but the fact should not be lost sight of that there was nothing discussed in committee that was not subsequently brought before the open Board. It was, however, a question for the Board itself, for it only had to alter its by-laws. “I am first of all a New Zealander.” said .Mr. Wilford, in conclusion. “and secondly one of those who believe in the progress of the Empire City. I haven’t •■blown’ on behalf of the Board. I have had every opportunity, but at tile same time I say that with ’ the facilities we give for quick transit and otherwise wo are the cheapest port in the Dominion.”