NAPIER HARBOUR WORKS.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 123, 10 June 1937, Page 4

NAPIER HARBOUR WORKS.

It can scarcely be thought that the chaixman of the Napier Harbour Board intends that his address to a Labour Party meeting, as reported last Tuesday, should be taken as a response to the call for some specific information as to how matters really stand with respect to harbour construction. In it he went very little, if ianything, beyond the generalities and personal assuranees that constituted his previously reported statement at the Harbour Board 's last meeting. He is no doubt quite conscious that the public, and particularly -the ratepayers, expect something a little more than this. So they may confidently assume that some much more detailed statement is in course of preparation ^nd will at no distant, date be laid before them, so that they may know exactly how they stand. The acknowledgment is made that further capital will be required and the ratepayers are no doubt specially interested to know whence this is to come without imposing some further liability upon them. In case it may be fancied that the chairman has verted to the Labour Pafty it is only fair to explain that he was addressing a Labour audience by a special invitation of f airly long standing. This makes it all the more reasonable to assume that his talk at that meeting was largely by way of courtesy to his immediate hosts and not by wayof allaying the very natural misgivings that have been aroused in the minds of the ratepayers. A great deal has been said lately about political prejudices being at work. Indeed, this is quite a favourite way with Labour apologists for answering what is quite fair and wellgrounded comment and criticism on the Government 's administration and methods. However, it may be said that, as already explained, there was no special significanee in the Harbour Boiard chairman "s compliance with a request from a Labour organisation. It may therefore be taken that he will treat the Harbour Board ratepayers' request for more information with the same courtesy and consideration