HARBOUR BOARD

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD

FORM OF EXPORT RETURNS CRITICISED THE HOUSING SCHEME The Wellington Harbour Board” mot last night. Mr. J. G. Harkness was in the chair, and other members present wore: Messrs. C. E. Danioll. C. J. B. Norwood, J. B. Mac Ewan, J. Leuchars, H. D. Bennett, M. W. Welch, and Captain C- M'Arthur. The board resolved to accept the tender of Mr. I’. C. Watt for contract No. 180 (Thorndon Store, No. 1) for tho sum of .235,941 7s. 4d. The chairman made a statement adversely criticising tho present system of crediting the district of production instead of the port of shipment in. Customs export trade returns. “This is a very serious thing,” ho said, “as far as the port of Wellington is concerned. In the past the port of departure was generally given the credit for the goods which were sent from the surrounding district. However, this did not give satisfaction to those living in the smaller ports, anf L a groat deal of fuss was made. In consequence, pressure was brought to bear on the Government, and I understand that the present principle is this: the Dominion is practically cut up into districts whore beer duty is collected. Thes’. are the districts that now' get tho special credit for exports such as wool. meat, and dairy produce, though they may never go through that special port which gets the crerifit for them. For instance, there uro certain goods raised in the Pnlmeretoij district which are credited to Wanganui, but which never go into Wanganui, but come direct to Wellington. It is this sort of thing which creates a very wrong impression in the minds of. people in other countries. When they see these returns certified to by the Government as being practically correct, thev say. naiurally, that tho port, of Wellington or i some other large port in the Dominion, is not of the size they have been led te believe, because they see that there are some -melter ports tho exports of which seem very’ nearly to reach the same total as those which go from a port such as Wellington.”

No resolution on the question was proposed. Mr. M. W. Welch revived the question of providing homes for the permanent employees of the board. Ho suggested that, if the board intended tp do anything it should sot up a fresh committee to report. The chairman said that the committee formerly set up by the beard had reported after making investigations exover feo-mo months. Tt prosented *a report which was still onen for the inspection of f.ny member. If Nit a later date it was considered ("psirable to review the matter, and go afresh into the question of purchasing land for building, he had no doubt that tho old committee or some other committee would do the work again.. The strong point in connection with the report made bv the old committee was that if thi? board purchased land for a definite purpose such as the building of homes, and found afterwards that the land was not altogether suitable, and that the permanent employers were not prepared to live where it was situated, the board could do nothing with it until legislation had been passed, since the tend would have to hr used for the specific nurpose for which it had been bought. The hoard had not the funds at present to carry out the. housing scheme. The amount of monev available was not sufficient for tho carrying out of some verv important development works. Tim board decided te call, tenders for supply of steel for Pipiten Wharf con. sfriietion. and for steam nines and fittings for thr hydraulic numnini’ station. The chairman stated that tenders wore to be caller! locally ns well as outside. The Government Tnsnrnntw Department advised the hoard I hat the actuarial investigation of tho board's supemnmiation fund had tevm comnlotod. The report showed tho fund to he in a very satisfactory condition.