GREY HARBOR BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1919, Page 1

GREY HARBOR BOARD.

STATEMENT BY HON. WILFORD. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] WELLINGTON, March 25.

Owing to a drop in its revenue through a decrease in the quantity ot coal passing over * its wharves, tho finances of the Greymouth Harbour Board are, in such a perilous position that the members of the Board recently appealed to the Minister of Marino for assistance from the Government. Cabinet lias now considered the question.

To-day Hon. T. M. Wilford made a statement as to what the Government was going to do. Tho question of the relation of the Railway Department to the Board, he said, has yet to be gone into.

The Minister stated that Cabinet has decided that] in the meantime, and until legislation can lie provided, Government will assist the Board to carry on until the end of August next. Tho assistance will bo on the. basis of the estimates of the amount required according to the representations made to the .Minister ’by tho Board. “This means,” sa id Mr Wilford, “ that Government puts itself hellina tho Board until the end of August. It is no final decision; for, on the contrary, the policy to be carried out in relation to the whole question has yet to be considered, with a view to the preparation of legislation to provide for the permanent policy of the Government.”

“ The Board at present owes the Government £360,000,” continued Mr Wilford, “ and some £14,200 in arrears interest, and, through the drop in the coal traffic, its revenue to-dav, notwithstanding careful management —because we are all satisfied that it lias been careful in the past two years—will not pay its interest and ordinary management expenses. Consequently it lias to ask the Government to assist it, or take over the port.” Mr Wilford indicated that the amount involved in hacking the Board with the Bank will probably he about £2,500.