GREYMOUTH HARBOR COMMISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1921, Page 1

GREYMOUTH HARBOR COMMISSION.

TO DEFINE RATING AREA

CONCLUDED YESTERDAY

(Argus Report)

Yesterday at the Courthouse, Greymouth, the Government Commission concluded its session.

At Wednesday’s sitting the Hokitika representatives asked that Hie Commission sit in Hokitika in order that the Hokitika local bodies might present their ease. Yesterday the Hokitika representatives urged that the visit be made, while the Greymouth

representative's did not think that the amount of evidence to bo taken warranted this. The chairman ruled 1 hat the Commission would sit at Hokitika to-dav.

Mr Cameron. Traffic Manager, Greymonth, said that he found that c on.e of the timber figures placed before the Commission on the previous day "ore incorrect. This was due to a transposition in the typing, the figures being originally correct. The corirect figures fur timber carried by the railway from | places south of Hokitika were 10,142[OOO feet (1915), and 12,973,000 fmt (1920). The figure for the lino above Hokitika for 1915 was 7,300,000 feet. William Gilbert, Sdeivfaary, Grey-, mouth Harbour Board, produced a number of statements of the proposed rateable area, taken from the veair book (1915 census). The l second table showed the* exports and imports for the l port of Greymouth for five years past. The

various mines were shown separately while the butter and cheese were i:i----e-dueled in the general statement. There was a statement of Refton coal up to 1918. All cheese .came from South Westland, amounting to. 2,412 crates in 1918-19, in 1918-19, 9,615 taxes of butter came from the district an increase of 4374 taves on the nrevious year.

At the present time no wharfages were charged by the Board. Coal had been free of wharfage, while the average wharfage at the main ports was Is 5| per ton. 150.000 tons exclusive of the State Mine were exported last year. Timber at all main ports averaged 3',d while here it was Id. 53.000.0(H) feet of timber was exported here last year, and 30,000. tons of general cargo handled. The Government paid royalty on the coal sold, to the public. II a rate bad, to ta struck it would mean that the Board would have to employ a big staff. Mr \Y\ S. Short suggested that the rate be levied, under the system as that employed by the Hospital and Chariiablo Aid Boards. This was followed by a discussion between Messrs Gilbert and Mui-doeh. regarding the value of such a system, the latter seeing no good in it at all while the former contended: that the imoui.it which, the Board could receive

thereby was limited. M,r Park replied that this was not so. The Board asked that the Coal Alines Act of 1905 be amended for the payment and wharfage and royalty on all coal. The Government had taken from the Board several valuable reserves and given them several valueless reserves. The harbour was built on the strength of these endowments and the Board desired to reclaim them. In reply to Mr Murdoch, Mr Giltart said lie was not sure of the meaning of Section 107 of the Coal Alines Act, 1905 (repealed in section 116 if the Consolidated Act) wherein wore tile .voids: ‘‘ln order to preserve the :n----1 (crests of tin* Westport Harbour Board and the Greymouth Harbour Board, the following provision shall apply in nil eases.” Among the provisions set down was that “the rents and royalties shall be naid to the said Bounds,” and Air Murdoch held that the wording of Hie Act bad not taeti kept to.

The chairman said, that the Government paid rents and royalties on all (on! sold to the public. Mr Murdoch replied that if a private company had to pay boLli special rate land royalty. The action of the Government was not ‘'preserving the interests of flic Hoard. - ’ No Board in the world had a .railway takpn away from it that brought in 30.K00 in one year, and given ip return £15,000 earmarked. Mr Gilbert said the proceeds of the Grey-Brunner railway In 1915-16 as £211,000. Wharfage would have been about £SOOO on this amount. Greymouth was primarily a coal port. Mr Murdoch contended that the whole benefit of the wharf went lo Greyniouth, all the watersidurs employed, living in the Borough of Greymouth. When Hokitika purchased their goods they were incidentally paving for the wharfage, etc. He considerred this was quite enough for them to pay. In reply to Mr Park, Mr Gilbert said there was no danger of the Board striking a rate for years to come.

Mr Hark: The people of Westland have made up their mind that Lyttelton is going to be their port. Mr Joyce: Mr Jeffries said yesterday that Hokitika, was a capital no longer, all produce being shipped by the “Hinemoa.”

In reply to Mr Joyce, Mr Gilbert said the residents of the Grey County receive no more benefit from the Board than the residents of any other county. 'l’lie Grey County mills were in a better advantage to send timber through the tunnel than those farther sputli. The same applied to the dairies in the Grey County.

Mr Pilkington contended that if Hokitika was to be brought in the proposed area, provision should be made for tlio payment of the Hokitika Board in tlio same way as stated in the Act regarding Greymouth. Tlio Chairman replied that tlio Hokitika harbour was not being used, Mr Short adding that the harbour was

practically useless to the Hokitika peo pie.”

Mr Kiteliingham recommended that the Government pay wharfage to the Harbour Board on all exports. Joseph McLean, merchant said that the firm had handled a considerable amount of cheese from South Westlaml. In 1915 owing to the strike, cheese was sent from Hokitika, but this was the only occasion it was not exported from Greymouth. During the last six months goods had been for-

warded by ship to Jackson’s Bay. He considered the Crown should pay as much n harbour charges as private concerns. Chairman : They are not in the same position. For instance, merchants have no endowments. Air McLean said if the coal had not been mined by the State it would have been taken up b v others and the Board would have the benefit. They wanted the Government to pay for the facilities of fhe port. Some years ago the Hokitika Harbour Board entered into a scheme with Greymouth, and it was proved by means of calling tenders that timber could ta sent from Greymouth £I2OO cheaper than from Hokitika. He. could not get an v insurance at Hokitika. In fact, £I2OO was paid for the privilege of getting a boat to go to Hoktika. AIR J. D. GILLIES.

Mr J. D. Gillies, (Harbour Board Engineer) was called and outlined the proposed rating area suggested by the Bartaur Board. MR T. W. CAT,DELL.

Air T. W. Caldwell Secretary West Coast Timber Trading Company, said that with the opening of the Otira tunnel a large amount of timber from South Westland would be railed to Canterbury, via Otira. In reply t-o Mr Kiteliingham be said it was impossible that with the opening of the Otira tunnel, that Canterbury would take the whole of the timber output from the West Coast. At the present time Wellington was the best market for timber. In fact, a lot better than Christ church. Last year bis company had put 5,000,000 feet of timber through the port of Greymouth. MR W. JOYCE. Mr Joyce representing the Grey County Council, said that the County Council objected to anv Board being appointed at all. The Government should run the whole thing themselves. At the present time if any kudos was to be gained .the Government took it, while in the case of blame, the Harbour Board had to bear it. The facilities' I for exporting timber would be greater when the tunnel'was opened and the port of Greymouth would be little used. The Council also were in favour of a rate if the district were included in the rating urea. MR J. W .HANNAN. Mr J. . Hannan, representing the Greymouth County Council said that the Council were not entirely in favour of lln i , Bill. The Bill bad been rushed through the House and, there were j many anomalies, With, the exception, of Westport the whole of the Harbour Boards throughout New Zealand were wliooly or partially nominated b y the Government, but. the Council was in, /favour of the Greymouth Harbour Board being an elective one. They also considered that the Government ; subsidy of £15,000 per annum should be a fixed amount and should he paid annually.

Aril J. 1). LYNCH. . i Mr J. I). Lynch (Mayor) in evidence ! said.: —‘‘The Borough is represented . 1 here to-day for the reason, that as the new Harbour Act proposes to. set up a rating district and it is to the interest of the Borough, if the Act js to. remain? on the .Statute Book, that Urn Hating District bp made as wide as possible so as to cover all areas benefiting by the harbour. Wo wish, it to he understood that in appearing here we are licit approving of the 1020 Act which was passed without reference to us or • any of the local bodies affected. We consider the position of the Board' is infinitely worse than before and desire to place oil) record our protest against tlio Act which) does not come into force until April next and we hope as the result of our representations to the Prime- Minister on the occasion of his approaching visit to cause material alterations to ho made, CONSTITUTION OF BOARD. “The GiHtymoufJi Borough Council at its last meeting carried, a resolution as follows:—-That ns llm Gwymouth Harbour Board lias ratable power the members of the Board should he elected by the ratepayers. The Council is totally opposed to any nominative members.’ The Council considers that the Harbour Board' should derive the same revenue from the State Coal Mine for the use of the wharf’s facilities for shipping as other coal exporters. It is manifestly unfair that the Harbour Board should perform its functions for the State at a lesser rate than private enterprises.’’ MR F, H. DOOGAN. IF. It’. Doognn, Grey Borough Council made the following statement:--EXPORTS. The exports through Greymouth Port in the year 1920:were: — Timber Other Super. Goods Ft. Tons From places between Camerons and TToktikn (both exclusive) 12,973,900 733 Innngahua from placer, south of Hokitika 14,950,200 267 27,824,100 1000 Part of the 15,330,000 super feet of timber and the 52 tons of other goods sent from places beyond Stillwater on the Otirn line also came from the Countv of Westland. Timber General Super. Ft. cargo. Total exported from Greymouth, 1020 52,711,244 4995

IMPORTS. Imports through Greymouth in the year 1920, and sent: Timber Other goods Suiier. ft. Tons. To places between Camerons and Hokitika (both exclusive) 2,500 6225 To places south of Hokitika 206,700 273 Total 209,200 6498 Part of the 436 tons of other goods sent to places beyond Stillwater on the Otira line went into the County of Westland. Total imports to Greymouth in 192 were 30,569 tons. During the year 1920, besides the 4995 tons of general cargo, 1113 bales of wool, 733 bales of flax, and 879 sleepers were exported from Greymouth, and no doubt a part of each < these came from AYestland. It is clear that excepting stock, the whole of the exports from and the whole of the imports for these districts must pass through Greymouth. All coal supplies from Brunner and Ruuanga arc exported through Greymouth, while the same applies to Grey County and Cobden. ( GELECTION OF RATES.

These should be collected by levy on each local hotly, in the same way as the Hospital and Charitable Aid rate is collected. If collected by the Harbour Board the expense would be enormous. CLAUSE 7. This clause provides that all moneys which at tta commencement of this Act are due and payable to His Majesty, may be treated as a loan at such rate of interest and on such conditions as the Minister of Finance may agtee to. What is to happen if these moneys are not treated as a loan? Will the Board have to get the money by a rate? These moneys should be definitely fixe 1 as a loan and the rate of interest and sinking fund fixed. STATE COAL. This aiul any other State commercial undertaking should pay some port charges as others carrying on the same business. ANNUAL SUBSIDY. The amount not exceeding £15,000, payable to the Greymouth lla.-houi Board under Clause 5, must he applied

in payment of interest, etc., on loans. Does this mean that only such sum as is required for interest, etc., will lit paid? And that when loans paid off the subsjdy will stop. This sub idy should be a fixed sum of £15,000 an- [ nunlly, with a proviso that so long as there is anything due for interest etc, tile said subsidy shall be appl ed i.i payment of such interest, etc. CONSTITUTION OF BOARD. As the Board is given rating powers, the members of the Board should b elected by the ratepayers of the Harbour District, according to rateable capital value. £ Greymouth Borough 1863 722,696 Grey County 5510 587,261 Borough of Brunner ... 598 20,905 Borough of Ruuanga ... 1411 45,952 Cobden Town Board included in Grey County . ( 7519 £654,118 1 I Innngahun County 1130 390,246 Hokitika Borough 2090 201,431 Westland County 4087 594,674 Borough of Kumara 623 23,732 Borough of Ross 491 19,553 * 7291 £839,390 *

i The first schedule to the Harbours Amendment. Act, 1910, gives a list of ■ Harbour Boards, the members of which are elected by the electors of various districts. Some are wholly elected and others have some of the members appointed by the Governor-General. Greymouth Harbour Board consists of seven members, all appointed by the Governor-General in Council. Mr Patterson for the Cobden Town Board, said that if the Cobden Town Board was included in the town Board a flat rate should he struck. As fains the Board* was concerned the Bill though not quite satisfactory was acceptable to the Cobden Town Board. Mr Hi. v. Billefct (chairman of the Cobden Town Board) contended that a wide rating area was necessary, as most of the places in Inangahua, Grey and AYestland Counties imported and exported goods per medium of t' e Greymouth wharf, This concluded the evidence and the Commission adjourned.