NOT UNDERSTOOD.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1924, Page 2

NOT UNDERSTOOD.

In the House when in Committee ol •Supply on the 12th. ult., Mr O’Krieii (Wesilam!) referred to the amount of c-J.j set down for the Hokitika Light-house-keeper. The light keeper was also linrhoi ma-ter signalman, and £2.‘j was a ridiculous sum for those ofliies. It was true that the harbor bad fallen into disrepute. In HMD. Jr year of the strike, the Hokitika harbor was c.seil exi lu.sively. au.l probably would be used again under similar conditions especially when the river changed. lie hoped the Minister would consider the justice of increasing the i;alarv of tin; lighthouse-keeper.

The Minister of Marine said with i-eganl to the Hokitika harbor light, ti.iit i-nlv one vessel was now trading regularly to the poll, and the Department iliil not think that at present anv further expense was warranted. It was willing, if the lm-al County Council, or Borough Council, would take ,-barge of the matter, to make it a present of the light and supply it with oil. In i onnection with the foregoing there was a strang" misunderstanding on tile part alike of both the Member and Minister. The lighthousc-kccpoi 1 is im( the bai'borinaster and .signalman, and there is not any eniineitioii between the duties of the two positions. The light is not a Hokitika harbor light, but a light, for all shipping approaching the AA’est Coast, from Australia ami overseas. Probably arising out of the above discussion the Maiine Department lias now notified the Hokitika Harbor Hoard that the lighthouse is to be dosed, and consequently the light will lie discontinued unless the local authority agrees to mulct take the maintenance.