GREY HARBOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1933, Page 7

GREY HARBOUR

THE FINANCIAL POSITION.

GRKYMOUTH, May 17

.■The suspension by the Government of the annual payment of £12,000 (rejduccd tom £lo,0i>0)! to the Greymouth HaiUmr Hoard, in connection with the Grey-Brunnor railway, one ■ of the Board’s endowments, lias been the subject of caustic comment, dur- ! ing recent months, and frequent I efforts .have been, made to secure the restoration of the payment. 'I he 1 most recent efforts, made last week, when the Chairman of the Board (Mr 1 P. -1. McLean) and the Engineer (Mr T. A. Johnston) visited Wellington, lia« apparently been successful, satisfactory arrangements having .been made. These have to be confirmed by Cabinet, but it is understood that this approval will fce forthcoming. Mr McLean, who has returned to Greymouth, made the following statement. “We arrived in Wellington on Tuesday last week, and on that day interviewed the Minister of Marine (Mr Coble) and the Minister of Finance (Mr Coates). The latter said that it was almost impossible to do anything for the Board, but he arranged an interview for the Wednesday afternoon with the Secretary to the Treasury '(Mr A. D. Park). Mr Johnston and I spent the whole of Wednesday af- ] ternoon with Mr Park and other Treasury officials. Various matters were referred to the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department (Mr McKenzie), with the objeot of seeing whether the Board’s expenditure could not be reduced. It was also suggested by Mr Park that further reductions In wages and salaries should take place, Mr Johnston left for Greymouth on Wednesday night, ■and I arranged a further appointment with Mr Park for Thursday afternoon. I went into matters fully with him, and he promised to complete his report for the Minister of Finance on Friday morning. Owing to the pending departure of the Prime Minister and Mr Masters for London, considerable difficulty was experienced in arranging interviews with Ministers, last Friday. Eventually, I secured a further • interview, with the Minister of. Marine, and, late' in -the afternoon, with the. Minister -of Finance, who had received Mr. Park’s report. Mr Coate ; ? informed me that he would do his utmost to meet the situation, but said that finance was a- very hard problem at the present time. However, he assuredime that he would do his utmost, but, before committing himself,. ... flic,, matter would have to go before Cabinet, for its approval.' • ■ 1 “I am quite satisfied that the Government will do its best to meet the Board, and, with the Board’s present finance, it will be able to continue the'essential works, as heretofore, for • the safe Working' ‘6f th’d poVt. ’ T -received every assistance from the Minister of Marine, who complimented me upon the i good work done by the Board. Every assistance was also' given by Messrs Johnston, McKenzie, 'aiul Park. The mission has been very satisfactory,, although, it is doubtful whether the matter could have been finalised without a pergonal visit to Wellington.”