WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 8

WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY

COMMENT ON THE WORKING SYSTEM. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) West port, September 24. The Harbour Board Commission resumed to-day. Mr. J. E. Hawes was recalled and gave further details regarding tho passenger traffic on the Cape line. It was shown that the reduced rates for part ,of the journey had been introduced by the running staff many years ago without referenco to tho secretary or tlio board.

Tho secretary resumed his evidence, giving exhaustive information with respect to the dredging plans, its operations and\cost, the results of tho expenditure of the £200,000 loan, and tho failure of tho outlay to produce tlio expected results, and tlio exceeding of tho i estimates, which he accounted for by putting in too nrach small stono in the eastern breakwater system. He also dealt with the keeping of tho board's accounts, tho raising of loans, tho travelling expenses of members, and financial matters generally. Correspondence in reference to the South Spit land was also dealt with.

Mr. C. D. Betts, ex-foreman of works, explained the operations under his direction, giving the number of men employed and their respective duties. Some of the men suspended over and over again had been sent back to the work. Witness stated that tlio engineer had considered their ciroumstanees, they being men with families. Ho (tho engineer) was a man of kindly nature. To some extent the work had Ijoen run on the lines of a benevolent institution. Witness also gavo n good deal of information about tho discarded sleopers, which had found their way into the hands of private people. Ho had not kept a record of these, and did not think they were paid for. Tlio commission commented on tho sales of ironbark timber by tho board at prices below the market values. Mr. Betts urged that any surplus revenue of the board be used to give railway conncction for the development of the coal-fields and also to give overland conncction on tho Defence grounds. Mr. W. Scanlon, an electivo member of tho present board, and Government nominee member of the old board, gave lengthy evidence mainly to the effect of the good work dono by tho old board, tho results exceeding the anticipations of Sir John Coodc, who designed tho harbour works. He also spoke in favour of completing tho construction of tho floating basin in viow of the largo coalfields likely to bo shortly tapped.