LIGHTERING BY HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 956, 31 July 1903, Page 2

LIGHTERING BY HARBOR BOARD

ME HARBING’S PROPOSITION. MEMBERS NOT FAVORABLE TO THE PROPOSAL. At the meotica of the Tlnrhv yesterday nip fir* ! vla me Union Co. and lindda. «-Earner Co. regretting that a reduction in lighterage could not be made.

The Chairman said that owing to the alteration of labor laws the rates paid for labor more than counterbalanced any reduction made by the improved harbor facilities. As a rule the men worked late at night, sometimes late at night and sometimes early in the morning, and very little lightering work was done within the ordinary eight hours. Mr Sievwright stated that he had heard the complaint made that the shipping companies managed to send all vessels to Gisborne on Sunday in order to savo expenses.

The Chairman : There is only one regular Sunday boat. The steamer leaving here on Saturday gets to Auckland on Sunday.

Mr Harding, as chief mover in the matter, said that the question of lightering by> the Board had to be either dropped entirely or they should consider its advisability. In his opinion, the answers from the two companies were not at all satisfactory. It simply meant that the Board god no advantage for the great amount of money spent on river improvements. That being so, the sooner they knocked off spending money the better, and they might turn their attention in some other direction. He had not expected any other reply from the companies than that received, and until the Harbor Board went into the business themselves the ratepayers would have to pay excessive rates. Mr Sievwright : Bo you moan to say that we should go for legislation to enable.us to do the lightering? Wo have no power at present. Mr Harding: If it is a question of whether we have power to devote portion of our funds to securing a lightering plant it will bo an easy -matter to go to the Government and ask for permission. We will then be able to invest some of the money lying at 31 per cent., and I am sure that it will return us 25 pec cent. I should like to get the expression of members as to whether they will be likely to support or entertain the idea of going to Messrs Kennedy and Evans and endeavoring to secure their plant, or if satisfactory arrangements with that firm cannot be made whether they are prepared to go into the business themselves. Mr Sievwright should know more about the legal aspect than I do. I cannot see why we should not be able to invest in a plant. It is very hard when the Board is told after the years they have been working that they are to receive no advantage in the matter of a reduction in the cost of lighterage ; that the rise in wages is overbalancing all tbe improvements we have made. The river, as far as I am concerned, is no better to the ratepayers than it was 25 years ago. It is a serious matter, and should have the careful consideration of the .board. It is no use going on spending money and obtaining no benofit, and the sooner we knock off the better. Mr Sievwright: I should say that you should frame full notice of motion on the subject. You cannot expect us on the spur of the moment to give an expression of opinion. Mr Matthewson: We have had it before, and the matter is in order. The Chairman: Both the steamship companies are shippers, for they engage lightermen and take no risks. Unless the Board can see its way to do the lightering cheaper than at present there can be no advantage to the public. The Board' could not touch the loan money for purchasing a plant, but they could take the money out of ordinary revenue. At present quite one-third of the goods coming in is free of all lighterage. The Balmain, River Hunter, and schooners come up to the wharf, and I understand that the Union Company are endeavoring to obtain a steamer suitable for coming right up to the wharf. That will make a great difference in the matter. At present one freezing works does its own lightering, and the other is calling for tenders. If they thought it would pay them to obtain a plant and do their own lightering they would do so. Mr Sievwright; Mr Harding wishes for an expression of opinion from members, and I will give him mine. The first point is that I think that the Board has no power to engage in the lightering business without an amendment of the present law. I have a strong feeling that municipal enterprise ought to be extended. They ought to be compelled to do many things chat they are not doing. I am npt SU r e that this question of lighterage would not be a good thing, to carry on. Nevertheless it is a most risky thing that one can engage in, because it is shipping, and shipping is always one of the most risky things to deal in. But until further legislation is obtained it is useless to discuss the question.

Capt. Tucker: If we could only settle one point, and that is whether it is within the scope of our abilities or not. If it is, then we could go further. I am afraid that it is outside the duties of the Board. There is nothing in the Harbor Act empowering the Board to engage in such an enterprise. The loan funds can only be utilised for. harbor improvement purposes. However, I am afraid that we have not power as a Harbor Board to entertain the undertaking. Mr Harding: We are certainly not likely to get the power if we sit still and do not ask for it. lam not going to put my opinion against Mr Bievwright’s, and possibly he is right, but why not move in the matter and see if the Government will not grant that power ? We should not sit still and be content to spend money when the ratepayers get no concessions. We are all the while increasing our expenditure, and there is no reduction in freight and lighterage. I feel keenly in regard to this matter, and I am perfectly satisfied that the risk is nothing, It would oe found to be a very good thing for the whole place. Some of the plant used for lighterage could be used for other purposes. It it were thought advisable we could approach the Government and see if they would give us assistance. On the other hand, if the members think it unwise to go into then let the matter drop. I think the time has arrived when it is the duty of the Board to see that something is done, and unless we move now we shall continue spending money for another fen years, and at the same time obtain no benefit. Mr Matthewson : It is a question of money which is the greatest power. Where is the money to oomo from '? You cannot use the loan money, for it was borrowed for a certain purpose. The Government would never extend that power to us, and how are we going to raise money out of general revenue which is fully taken up making harbor improvements and keeping the channel open ? Even if we had the power we would have to have new plant and employ men to look after it. More j than that, we would have to have an overseer to look after the men. We should require captains and general managers, and a whole army of men, and unless we had a genius at the head of affairs there would be bound to be mismanagement. It would not pay the Board to look after it. It is

the high wages that have taken away a great deal of the profit of the business. It is a very difficult matter to manage, and it would be very injudicious even if we had the means to go in for it. Mr Hepburn : Is it any part of the Harbor Board’s business to regulate freights ? I do not think that it is, for that question is generally left to the merchants and the people themselves. I would be dead against having anything to do with lighterage. There is too much risk in the business,

Mr Matthewson : It is a ticklish job. “ Yes, it is a ticklish job,” adfiod Mr Hepburn, 11 you have to go alongside ships and run all sort? oi risks, I think that it Would be a very risky business to touch at all. -If hat sort of thing generally regulates itself. Ityou have a good harbor in a very short time there will be competition, and the matter will right itself. It is for the people of the place to get the stuff as cheap as they can, Idp not think that it is the duty of the Board-to regulate freights. Mr Sievwright: We are no forwarder. Mr Harding : Yes, we are a good deal forwarder.

Mr Sievwright ; You; proposition haß not been seconded, .

Captain Tucker: Mr H—d.ug only asked for an expression of r „,ioD. The Chairman : Tb is all that we have got-. Mr Haidl- : Li tho majority of the Boarn o 0 .lost it there is no use movin'.- ... m.solution on the suoject. Chairman : Those in favor of the Board entertaining the lighterage question say aye. Mr Whinray : The question is not sufficiently matured for us to vote. Mr Sievwright : We might let the matter stand over for a while. By and bye it may present itself to us in a different light. Capf-ain Tucker : The truth is we are not sufficiently informed on the subject. Mr Sievwright : That is what I say. The committee should have brought a definite proposal before us. ,

After further discussion it was decided that the question should be deferred for the present.