HARBOUR PROGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 640, 18 October 1909, Page 6

HARBOUR PROGRESS.

■;;■..''';.' f '■'■ EMpiMEBStpiIiNER. .;:, ',■};,' ' CH4inifAN;pN, , rHE BOAJIb'S POLICTi.: ■ .-■ The employee's of'the Wellington Harbour Board;spent; 4;verj , , enjoyable , evening On-'Sat-. urdiy.; : lt 'was : their,first, annual .dinner, and nearly 150.sat;down to the tables at; tho Hotel Windsor under the presidency p! Mr. T.V M. Wilfordj chairman of tho board. 'Those present included tho Hon> Ti. K, Macdonaldi M.L.C.," Messrs. [A. t. ilerdman and J. P. Luke, M.P.'s, Arid'most of,the members ftnd officorj of the Harbour' Board. '■■-,' -„-.,.. ..-•, -,'•..' ■ - ■ ', Mr: , J. P.'Liikc, M.P.,vJn. p'»po6ln's .'.'i The Wellington Harbour Board,'-said that froui the inception of the boijrd.in , 1680,' it had had nicn of. biisiness capacity and. energy,, at its bead, but there had never been a better board than.the present one.. Mr. Wllford had proved .himself a very able chairman. Th6.progress' of- the hnrbour-'became'iiiuch'moro rapid after the 'appointment of Mr. W.' Ferguson, asohief osccutivb officer; In 1683.: That , gentleman and ■ tho presont 'secretary (Mr, H. E, Nichells) aiid engineijr (Mr. Marchbnnks) were also otilogiscj by. Mr.' Lukft. ■• Hβ then proceeded to advo. cate a'purol.v elcotivo.tonstitutiofl.for harbom boards, arguing that ■ tho fiUCCess of the train' h'aj , and lighting outer prises, of -the Wellington .City.CcHincil showed that democratlcfiHy olectei! bodies wore quite competent- to mahagoi' groat business undertakings, Ho hoped that Wht-n th» board -was .reconstituted on a -popular basis, all tho l present members would como back to .thcirjsoats.: (ApnlttU6e.)-;... .--..-! ■■■..'. '~ '■■-.'--. , ,Mr. Wilford, In responding,, said it »a(i an honour to be connected with tho forewent and most progressive -harbour ' board in - thte Dominion;'. The past year had soena decrease in imports, consequontly-.in the : revenue of the board, but,-they had not'thought:fit"to pass on the loss-ta tlio employees. Tuey had looked ahead and seen that this decrease of business was comings and lied-decided not'to inorcMO the charges;. Sufth anmcreaso would have boon disastfous-^ir' at; 'least non-beneflcial—to' tho great public tthose'interests'tho. board had to ctiro for. The board 6 revonuo' last vear was £172,000, and it paid in profits t>! th 6 year wore only J4MO. The board had: recognised/that it was not a-com ban* iarryin* oh ah lnstibitiAn to niftko u profit f6t shatoholdere,' but a body. , of. trustees for the' trablio as a frhole. Tho board did not ohdeavOUrtb'OWn a profit'of £io,bt[> or JE30.000 On tho. year's Working, but to.-nnJlib roVenuo meet oxpondituro with a fair margin over, and to apply atiy fuHhtr "pronto.to giving ebnee'ssions; which wore rightly ■ demanded by ■ th| merchants,, tho shippers, ■ artd tlio cmprotefn ok occasion aroso. Ho held that mioh WftS tht proper, policy for p. public body. The board Wished, to do a fail' tiling all round to those from, whom it droff Its' rdveniie' nnd to" its employees. When the employees had any griev fliicft, tlicj , rely on getting a fair Wring from tho bbiird. (Applftnse.) -.•■" ■':' ,>. Tho toast ;of the" Shippinß Companies" was proposed: V.'il. Munro, v ' ■'.';:•': Mf. C.'W.JOhbs said .that as far'M-his 1 experience' w6nt,. BhiMii* comimiiiw had e t wavl recolvcd• thbraughly ,falr and! impwllnl treat ment'ffOm th 6 officials aud'eniplojtes of the Harbour; Board ;'•">.: "■'"." ;':'.;'Ci . . ' •:' ;■'.■'.' .■-.

~ lhe toast list also includodi,"Parliament, , "'. proposed:liV.Mf..T.v-S. Westou,:aad respoadeii' to by Mr, A , . 'L.'Hordman, U.P;; " Eniployoes" '■ proposed by Mr. Wi BeauchaWpY responded t« ■>y v -;% ?«. ;-J. .Belt; and , ''Tho, Press." : ContributipU« to tho:|iiUflical.p»rt bf the prograuinie included ite#ls by the' bhairnian, ttn\ ■ Me^ri.'OV.Probfn;■Mafeon,'A,V: H, MuhMi Wclelier, M'DofeaJd, liule,: Uβ, oaf Malinsbil, Mr,,H.E,.Nlo)ioll» shoin htiDealf,,* popular rMiteri.atid.'Mr, Chivore;prriv;id«l-tli& : .orchestraj ttnd_.wte ( lijiusdfji;;topabiolaocbni^