HARBOUR CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 17, 16 April 1947, Page 5

HARBOUR CONTROL

WHAKATANE BOARD MEETING PROBLEM OF RISING COSTS Mr W. R. Boon presided at the bi-monthly meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board held last Friday. Present Messrs. J. A. Mitchell, A. L. Richardson, R. Ruddick, C. T. Smith, C. McKenzie, W. Hunter, H. G. Warren and H. W. Brabant. The Secretary (Mr C. G. Lucas) and the Consulting Engineer (Mr C. H. Brebner) were also in attendance. The Harbour Boards’ Association wrote stating that at. a meeting of the Executive held on the 25th ebruary the question of increasing costs and the provision of the necessary finance to meet same was under review. The reports which had recently appeared in the newspapers indicating that the Federation of Labour proposed to make a general application to the Court of Arbitration for a wage increase of £1 a week, and the possibility of the present proceedings for a new award for Harbour Board workers resulting in increased wages being granted were referred to and discussed by members. The concensus of opinion was that the present income of Harbour Boards would be insufficient to meet increases. As a consequence Harbour Boards might find it necessary to approach the Price Tribunal seeking permission to increase Harbour Dues, and it was suggested that Boards should cooperate with each other and that applications to the Tribunal should be made through the Association. Should legal assistance be necessary the Association’s solicitor could—if. Harbour Boards are agreeable—act for all Harbour Boards collectively. The letter was received.

Electricity For Ships Writing with regard to the supply of electricity to ships visiting the port, the Northern Steamship Company advised that the matter has been delayed through no finality having been reached with the Auckland Harbour Board. It was now understood that the proposal was to standardise the scheme at 400 volts and the Company had ordered transformers for its ships accordingly. It should be in order for the board to work on this basis. The secretary reported that the matter had been referred by letter to the Electrical Engineer, Whakatane Borough Council, and Mr Lysaght had advised on the 10th April that the Northern Steamship Company was obtaining further information as to whether the installation was two or three phase, and also the type of plug which was being used in Auckland. He stated that he should be in a position to \ advise the Board further before the 18th April. The matter was referred to the secretary for completion.

New Road to River Referring to the move to dedicate a road to the Whakatane river from Keepa’s Road the secretary reported that. the Court considered the Board’s application to lay off the Native Road line from Pt. Lot 288 No. 22 Kangitaiki Parish. The Board’s application was granted, compensation being fixed at £3O, hearing fee 3 0/-. The Board, at Mr.Doherty’s (les see) application was also required to construct a 3-foot culvert with a wooden flap flood-gate and to arrange to have the fence on the road frontage re-erected with gate. The Whakatane Paper Mills was attending ot the re-erection of the fence but the matter of the construction of the culvert and flood-gate still required attention. The secretary’s action was confirmed and the consulting engineer was instructed to have the culvert and wooden flap flood-gate constructed.

Strand Extension Road

The chairman reported that in company with the Consulting Engineer and the Secretary, he had conferred with Messrs. Schofield senior and junior. Mr Schofield had also invited the 3orough Council to be represented and Messrs. Lovelock and Lysaght attended. Mr Schofield had been advised -that it was the Board’s intention to take the greater portion of Mrs Schofield’s land which adjoined the Harbour Board Endowment. Mr Schofield had been asked to advise the Board by the 10th April what the lands and improvements had cost him. The secretary reported he had telephoned Mr Schofield Snr. the previous day. Mr Schofield said his son Ken was away and he did not feel equal to interviewing the Board without him. He had no proposals to submit to the Board. The matter had not been finally discussed. The Board formally decided to

take under the provisions of the Public Works Act all the land on C.T. 638/257 excluding Sections 62pt., 63, 64 and 65.