The Evening Star. FRIDAY. APRIL 17, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3479, 17 April 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY. APRIL 17, 1874

At a meeting held on the 4th September of last year Messrs Gillies, Davie, M‘Neil, Tewsley, Rattray, and Ramsay were appointed a sub-commit-tee to obtain information as to the best means of improving the Harbor, so as to bring vessels of large tonnage up to Dunedin. These gentlemen have completed the work allotted to them, and their report is now published. Whatever may be the result of their inquiries, the public are much indebted to them for the careful attention they have given to obtaining as much information as possible, and for the fulness with which the engineers’ plans and reports are detailed. Nor should the services rendered by Messrs J. T. Thomson, Blair, M'Gregor, and Barr be overlooked. The professional opinions of Messrs Thomson, Barr, and M'Gregor are accompanied by drawings illustrative of their plans, and tending to throw light on the subject. Had it not been that those gentlemen have thus handsomely given much time to the investigation of the difficulties and advantages in prospect, any movement initiated must have been merely conjectural on the part of the public. The first step has, however, been taken, and it is ascertained beyond a doubt that bringing up to Dunedin the largest ships tfuat can enter the channel between the Heads, is net an idle dream,

but a very desirable possibility. As a private speculation, it would be a very paying one ; and if, as a private enterprise, it would pay, there is no reason why the profit should not be participated in by the Province, rather than by giving it away to be enjoyed by some few shareholders. We do not think the time has arrived when the comparative merits of the plans proposed should be discussed. In all probabililitv any one of them would fully answer the purpose. That, however, is a theme for future consideration.* The first object contemplated in the appointment of a sub-committee has been accomplished; it is ascertained that a channel can be made at a less cost than the most sanguine antici-

pated, and it is most desirable the work should be done. The next step in the natural order of things is what shall be the intellectual machinery by which it shall be carried out. Our opinion coincides with that of the subcommittee : it should be by means of a Harbor Trust, to whom shall be remitted the management of the whole Harbor. We do not, however, clearly understand the sub-Cora mittee’s recommendation as to the appointment of the Trust. It is suggested that it shall be a representative body, in which the City generally, the Province generally, and the merchants specially, shall have their appointees. There is every appearance of fairness in this, provided representation is needed in such a case. Of this we doubt the wisdom, if it is intended that the Harbor Trust shall be a changing Corporation, liable to be swayed in different directions vby the political feeling of the day. The great object of a Harbor Trust is to secure the services of those whose attention is specially and continuously directed to the one object

for which they are appointed; and the men should be paid servants of the public, and answerable to them, not removable at the caprice of a Provincial Council, a City Corporation, or a Chamber of Commerce. So far as legislation is concerned, representation is found essential to liberty, but it is representation run mad when applied to a body entrusted with executive functions, the very success of whose administration is dependent upon minute acquaintance with details and upon continuity and unity of purpose. In the course of our professional life we have seen the experiment of a legislatorial executive tried, but we never knew it succeed. It has always proved expensive and commonly ruinous to institutions. We do not think the appointment,of a Harbor Trust of less importance than that of an engineer ; for the success of'the latter depends very much on the ability of the former, and by frequently changing the

persons composing the Trust, either the engineer has more power than is desirable, however competent he may be, or he is harassed and impeded in his work by the crude opinions of men, possibly elected for the purpose of carrying out some crotchet thrust upon the public by a disappointed opponent. Perhaps it may be replied that such results have not been found to follow the delibera-

tiona of Provincial and City Councils. To a certain extent this may be true ; but it must be remembered that they are not the Executive officers. Their ideas are worked out for them by paid servants of long experience and tided ability. To them is remitted the task—commonly often a very unthankful one of carrying into execution the resolutions adopted by the Councils. Remove them from the offices they generally so faithfully and intelligently fill, and our social machinery would very soon come to a deadlock. They are the real Executive, and the value of their services can be attested by every one who has held the position of a poli-

tical head of a department. We look upon it that a Harbor Trust occupies a very similar position. We do not say they should be absolutely irresponsible. No public servant is. But we think it would be better that they should be connected politically with some department, so that the political head of it should be able to give such information to the Council and the public as they are fairly entitled to have given to them. It is possible that the subcommittee entertain like views on the subject, and that the appointments once made should not be cancelled without good and sufficient reasons. If that be the case, we see no reason to find fault with their suggestions, except that if the Board are paid, four, rather than nine, would be advisable :—A Chairman and three other Trustees.'