LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 5

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the Lytteiton Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs R. Moor©, (chairman), F. Horrell, H. Friedlander, A- Kaye, J. Little, J. J. Dougall, and J. Storry. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The Chairman, in his report, said that since the last ordinary meeting the following sums had been paid into the harbour fund account: —Wbariage, £237116s 3d; pilotage and port chai g.s, £3_,'7 10s Id; towage, storage, etc., £493 6s 9d; a totaj of £3197 13s Id. Ihe total cash receipts since tho beginning of the year amounted to £60,349 8s lid, as against the sum of £65,4-50 18s 2d received during the corresponding period of last year. The bank book showed tho harbour fund to be in credit £3571 13s lid, and the unpaid accounts to be passed for payment amounted to £500 0s 6d, which wouid leave this account in credit £3171 13s od. He regretted that owing to tho strike, which had practically commenced on October 31st, the business of the port had been so disorganised that it would interfere to a considerable extent with the revenue for the month, and had diverted a portion of the port's ordinary business to the port of Timnru. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. The Harbour Improvement Committee reported that it had considered a confidential memorandum, introduced by tho chairman, embodying suggestions with the object of bringing about a solution of the difficulties arising out of the employment of casusil waterside workers, and the following recommendation was agreed to: —"That as tho question of equalising the labour of the waterside workers is of such involved and serious importance, and that the session of Parliament is likely to end before thero is time for full consideration this discussion bo adjourned until a future date." The report was adopted. In reply to a question by Mr Dougall, the Chairman said if a conference of Harbour Boards was arranged for regarding the strike, the Board would have to appoint delegates. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee reported that the sum of £1300 (sinking fund) had been invested in tho purchase of thirteen £100 Timaru Harbour Board live per cent, debentures. The sum of £1200 (special accident fund) had been invested in the purchase of twelve £100 Timaru Harbour Board five per cent, debentures. Ihe sum of £4000, part of the sum of £13.000 originally deposited with the Christchurch City Council, had been withdrawn on the 20th November, and placed to the credit of the special renewal fund "Sogether with the accrued interest thereon, namely, £65 ls lid. The report was adopted. GENERAL BUSINESS. The Special Committee set up to consider Mr Friedlander's notice of motion" regarding the of the lino through the tunnel asked leavo to defer consideration until January.—The request was granted. A letter was received from Mr John LamHSe, acknowledging receipt of the Board's resolution and thanking members for their kind expressions of sympathy on his retirement. - The National Peace Council forwarded a copy of a resolution, calling upon the Board to do all in its power to discourage and prevent cargo boats from entering the harbour to load or unload during the continuance of tho strike, as their doing so would be a possible cause of trouble and an irritant to the strikers. •-.-,.. The secretary had replied to the effect that the sole object of the Board was to i-.omote trade, and to keep the port opeji, and that it could not see its way to do anything that would prevent shipping from entering or leaving tho port, or cargo being worked. Several members of the Board were highly amused at the Peace Council's resolution, which was characterised as a very cool piece of "cheek." The secretary's reply was endorsed by the Board. The handbook relating to the port, the compilation of which had been left m the hands of Mr A. Kaye **nd the secretary, was laid on The publication .was approved and the compilers congratulated on the result of their work. .-...**» -, NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Joshua Little; who had five notices of. motion on the order paper, applied for leave to withdraw all but one. . This was granted, and on the remaining one being put it did not get a seconder and lapsed. Mr Littlo then proposed that the engineer obtain certain information for him and report to the next meeting,, but this resolution also was not seconded and lapsed accordingly. • ' • ■■