Gisborne Harbor Poll.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 219, 8 November 1888, Page 3

Gisborne Harbor Poll.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sib,—As the time for taking a poll of Ratepayers, to sanction the expenditure of a further sum of £40,000 in extending the socalled breakwater, approaches, and although the public must be already surfeited with letters and editorials on the subject (all, however, showing only one side of the question), permit me to express my views. The matter is one of such grave importance, and will have such a permanent effect for good, or for evil, on the district, that I feel justified in craving space in order to show “ the other aide cf the question.” In doing so I may possibly be accused of plagiarising some of Mr Mattbeweon’s statements, made at a recent meeting of the Board. That gentleman’s remarks, if I remember rightly, were not reported— possibly because the truths uttered could not be refuted. lam not vain enough to assume the position of Mentor to the ratepayers, but I do ask them to carefully consider the question before going to the poll. Some time ago, the then Chairman and the Engineer of the Board issued statements, presumably with the sanction of a majority of the members, giving reasons and facts (fictions, some irreverently term them) why the ratepayers should vote for the further expenditure of £40,000. Now, sir, without asserting that these statements contain absolute falsehoods, I must say the truth is greatly suppressed, and in some places stretched almost to solution of continuity. Mr Sievwright says “ £lOO,OOO has been expended, appropriated to redemption of loan and lent,” whereas there is now only at credit in the Bank, deducting overdraft, £98,000, so that £102,000 must have been spent as above stated. No account is taken of the £3,500 profit on loan, nor about £2,500 payment for ceme jßr eva ’ without mentioning salaries still current. He further states “theTip, Boo (borrowed by the Board from Loan account) “ is being paid out of ordinary revenue by ten equal yearly instalments, the first of which is payable this year.” This is simply an impossibility. On the most sanguine computation (only two months of the year is to run) the ordinary revenue will not exceed £1,200, and as the ordinary expenditure amounts to, in round figures, £lOOO, only £2OO is left to meet the yearly instalment of £l.OBO, and this latter will have to be met by special rate or a prohibitive charge on shipping, which ultimately falls on the ratepayers. Again Mr Sievwright states, •• The proposed extension of works will be completed within say two years, and additional revenue will be derived in that way—say from £2.000 to £3,000 per annum. Lighterage on goods will be saved by vessels Coming alongside, and merchants being thus aaved 4s to os per ton, would readily pay 2s to 2s 6d of increased wharfage rates, which Would yield say £2,000. Then increased, but; •till very moderate port charges, on vessels might fairly be levied, thus bringing up the revenue.” Surely he must have known when penning the above that the present wharf dues are sixpence in excess of the legal rate, and further taking it in conjunction with the Engineer’s report, that even with the expenditure of £40,000 vessels of the Australia class will only be able to use the work 250 days in the year. Moat practical men doubt this assertion, but grantii g that all the U.S.S. Co.’s smaller vessels can use it every day of the year, what will be the cost to the public compared to the present lighterage charge of four shillings ? During the last year the four smaller U.S.S Co.’s boats trading here have carried to and from the port a little over 4,000 tons. Now to get that tonnage from the end of breakwater to sheds at blockJard will require a set of say ten waggons, five ands to receive.them from ships’ slings, to

■tow in and discharge from trucks, a tally clerk, and an engine driver. There will also be the cost of fuel, oil, Ac,, for the engine (horses and drays cannot be worked on the viaduct), wear and tear of engine, rolling stock, etc., in all, little, if anything, under 53 per ton. Carters will charge at least sixpence extia for carting round by the Turangauui bridge. Not one hand less will be required than at present on this side as the larger ateamers and wool ships will have to bj attended to by the lighters. The Engineer’s statement, though more artful, is not a whit less misleading. To analyse it as it deserves would require apace than you would care to grant. His rash denunciation of all who dare to criticise, and the inconsiderate imputation of motives, mark the whole production as a bit of special pleading. Does it follow that because he can wri’e B.E. after his name his opinion must be infallible and bis work removed from the region of criticism—even of those who employ and pay him ? A doubt still exists in my mind as to whether the Board have acted wisely in going to a poll, but having done so it must stand the hazard of the die. It is no secret that the Special Committee naturally thought there was reason for very careful considera tion before recommending further legislation for the Gisborne Harbor Board, especially after the validating Act of last year and with the 1884 Act before them; it therefore advi?ed that Waiapu and Tolago riding* should be exempt from farther ratings simply to afford our member a graceful opportunity to withdraw his bantling with a view to more comprehensive legislation next session. Surely Mr Graham would have taken the hint and have done so had he known that the exempted district was to extend to the Pouawa creek, within ten miles of Gisborne. It will be remembered that u hen the rate-

payers were asked to sanction the raising cf the Loan it was represented that by the rapid increase in the value of the Northern ridings, the burden on the older settlement be lightened, but now that source of relief is effectually cut off. Much has beeu said at recent meetings about the Northern ridings having contributed only £250 a year towards harbor rates, and that their exclusion is of little consequence, but it should be borne in mind that they are rated on a valuation made three years ago when there was little or no improvement be ng made. The next valuation, however, will show a very large increase, whilst within the Special District the valuation will have decreased or at most be stationary. Much oratorical capital has been made out of the strong objection there is to the unexpended portion of the loan being handed over to the control of the Government, and it is argued by some that it would be better even to waste the £40.000 than to let it pass into the hands of the Public Trustee. It has also been stated that a distinct contract exists between the Board and the Union Bank, providing that no money shall be drawn from the latter, except for works, without twelve months’ notice. I do

not greatly rely on this argument, but surely if the Government can be trusted with £55,000 to £58,000 it may also be trusted with the other £40,000. To pa*, the matter clearly before the ratepayers voting for further expenditure (and I would again point out that only about £35,000, at most, of the £40,000 is left to spend), it means—lst. Expending about £lO,OOO a year, out of which must be deducted £BOO, engineer’s salary. 2nd. A cost for haulage, cartage, etc., of 5s to 5s 6d per ton, as against 4s per lighter; there will still be 2s 6d wharfage in either case, besides the extra rate in special district of over one-halfpenny in the Borough and over one-farthing in the country on capital value. In order to make it plain, it means a person’s rates now amounting to £lO will, if the poll is carried, be increased to £l6. By voting against, extra

rates will be avoided, the cost of shipping and landing goods will be the same as at present, and there will be nearly £lOO,OOO left in the hands of the Public Trustee, or the Bank, bearing interest at least equal to current Bank rate on deposits—thus meeting about half the Interest on loan, besides being available for harbor extension or other works, say twelve months hence, or at some future time when we get farther and more favorable harbor legislation. After all, the money is ours, and we must ultimately have the disposal of it. I have no doubt the tide of prosperity will shortly flow, when we will be in a position better able to bear the interest on the £lOO,OOO, and therefore be free to spend it. One aspect of the question I have intentionally avoided, namely the question of site. A little time will show the action of the present work upon the river—-m a small way perhaps, but every little experience gained is of value to a community Struggling as we are just now. Each ratepayer will exercise, no doubt, his own judgment on that point, but there are a few shortsighted traders and others quite willing and anxious to mortgage, by way of rates, their own and others’ properties for the space of thirty years, in order that they may gain a temporary profit from expenditure. To such, argumifit ii am &c. ( Him