THE HARBOUR SCHEME.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4552, 18 April 1923, Page 2

THE HARBOUR SCHEME.

ADDRESS BY DELEGATION. REASONS FOR THE LOAN. At the Soldiers’ Club on Monday evening the delegation from the Thames Harbour’ Board addressed about 30 ratepayers of Paeroa on th 3 Thames Harbour improvement scheme for which a loan of £60,000 will he submitted to the ratepayers within the harbour district on April 26. The delegation comprised Messrs C. W. Harris, chairman of the Thames Harbour Board; E. N. Miller, Mayor of Thames, and a member of the Board ; E. F. Adams, engineer to the Board ; F. H. Claxton, chairman of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board : D. Donaldson, Mayor of Waihi, and a member of the Board ; J. W. Danby, a member of the Board; and the Board’s secretary; Mr N. Gibbs. His Worship the Mayor, Mr P. E. Brenar., presided over the meeting. The first speaker was Mr Harris, and his remarks were similar tp those published in our issue of the 9th instant dealing with the delegation's meetings at the various centres on the Hauraki Plains. The speakers following Mr Harris traversed the .same grounds of arguments and reiterated the explanations of the proposed harbour improvements as has already been fully reported. Mr E. F. Adams, the Beard’s engineer. briefly explained the various proposed workings of the harbour by means of a large map. Mr J. W. Danby outlined the areas of land under cultivation within the rating area, showing that only onethird of the land had been cultivated. The speaker also stated that the importation of artificial manures for the Hauraki Plains would have to be faced in the near future. He quoted the number of dairy cows within the area, also the amount of dairy produce manufactured during 1922. He gave the experiences of Taranaki since tlie New Plymouth harbour scheme had been carried out in which it was stated that freights had been lowered and the district had undoubtedly prospered. Direct, importations had been received from all parts of the world. He quoted authoriites and figures tp show that last year a saving of 25s per ton on basic slag, and 2s per case on petroleum, had been effected since the New Plymouth Harbour had been improved. The speaker also quoted the work that had been done.at Castlecliff, Wanganui, as regards harbour improvements and t.he berthing of ocean-going vessels. Mr F. H. Claxton prefaced his remarks by mentioning that the last time he had addressed a meeting in Paeroa he had then been interested in hydro-electricity. He said that the ratepayers had authorised the Power Board to raise a loan of approximate ly half a million sterling for the development of hydro-electricity. The Board this year was in the happy position of being able lt.o pay interest and sinking fund out of ordinary revenue. This had been only made possible by the hearty co-operation of the ratepayers. In dealing with ths harbour improvements scheme Mr Claxton said he wished to show how, if the loan of £6o'ooo was carried, it was safe to assume that interest and sinking fund would be -received from ordinary revenue, and that, it would not be necessary to strike a rate witning the harbour rating area. He quoted an instance where a distinct saving had been effected by the Powe:’ Board, in the direct shipment of poles for electric line construction. Mr E. N. Miller briefly dealt with the rating aspect of the scheme. He said that t,he interests of the ratepayers within the area were very carefully conserved and protected. Every district would have direct representation on the Board. The country members would have a larger vote than the Thames Borough. The Harbour Board could not spend one penny of loan money until the plans had been approved by the Marine Department, and it was not likely that that department would entertain any “wild cat” scheme. The total liability of the ratepayers in the Paeroa Borough would be about £3B a year. On the total amount of the loan of £60.000 this would be about Is lOd per ratepayer. In the event of it being found that it was necessary for the Harbour Board to collect a rate, it would work out at £l3 per annum, as far as Paeroa was concerned, which would amount to 7d per ratepayer o" 2d per head of the present population. The speaker quoted further figures to show the small liability that could fall on the ratepayers of Paeroa. In conclusion he said that he thought the community of interest in this district was generous enough to accord its hearty support of the proposed harbour improvements scheme.

Mr D. Donaldsoh said that he was privileged to speak a few words as to the benefit the proposed harbour improvements scheme would be to Waihi and Paeroa. He contended it was unquestionable that the Thames harbour improvements would greatly benefit the farmers of the district, and what gain the farmers received would undoubtedly be passed on to the various townships. They would beheflt by the freer and more prosperous condition of the settlers. He said that the improvements to the Thames Harbour would be a tremendous asset to Paeroa, and would open up an avenus of solution to the vexed question of the silted Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers. Mr Donaldson said the scheme was a businesslike proposition, worthy of earnest consideration by the Paeroa ratepayers, as it was also to the ratepayers of Waihi. QUESTIONS. Mr G. P. de Castro handed up a cutting taken from the Auckland “Herald” of Saturday last bearing on the recent meeting held at Morrinsvil'e by those opposed to the delegation. Mr E. Edwards asked if the delega-i tion was not speaking of the benefits of the big harbour improvements and asking the meeting to support the smaller scheme of £6o*ooo. Mr Harris said that the benefits from the smaller scheme were outlined because it was obvious that, wltn a lai ger scheme the benefits’ to the

district, would be considerably larger. Mr Silcock said that the instances , quoted by Mr Danby pertaining to the development of the ports of Wanganui and New Plymouth had no bearing on t.his district. Wanganui and New Plymouth were both landlocked harbours, miles from a deep sen port, whereas Thames was already a deep harbour, and only a matter of about 37 miles from Auckland.

Mr Edwards asked if the same saving could be effected at Thames, which was already a deep water port, as had been effected at Wanganui and New Plymouth, which vere more or less isolated harbours. .. Mr de Castro said he could not see how a saving was to be effected by' cargp coming through the Thames port. He contended that a saving might be effected where a cargo consisted of one or two lines, such as manures or poles, but when a vessel brought a cargo of general merchandise he did not see how any saving could be effected. Mr Buchanan asked the tonnage of the boat that brought poles to Kopu.

In reply, Mr Claxton said .the boat was drawing 13ft of water, but he did not remember the tonnage of the vessel. He said that the vessel had to lay off for nearly a week to await a high tide to enable her to be berthed at Kopu. Mr Porritt asked the Board’s engineer to explain his opposition to the various river improvements and the shipping policy of the river generally. Mr E. F. Adams said that he had never made such a general statement condemning any improvements for the removal of the siltation of the rivers. He did ’not say that the rivers should be allowed to silt up and only be navigable to small vessels. Mr Buchanan asked for the revenue derived from the Board’s wharves at Kopu. Burke Street,, Shortland, and Turia.

The secretary in reply said that the va'ue of goods revenue collected during 1920 svas, Burke Street wharf, £1720 16s 8d ; Shortland, £458 15s_ 3d : Kopu, £256 19s 8d ; and Turua, £304 Ils 7d. The whole of the total revenue collected above these figures for the four wharves was £2561. In 1921 the goods revenue was: Burke Street, £1499 ; Shortland, £458 ; Kopu, £209 : and Turua, £377. The .total amount above these figures for the four wharves was £2781. Mr Buchanan asked if the carrying of the £60,000 loan would put a difficulty in the way of the improvement of the Ohfnemuri and Waihou rivers. He contended that the rivers should be controlled by a board composed of those paying rates for the improvements to the rivers, and the Harbour Board should comprise a separate body altogether. The chairman said that there would be river representatives on the Harbour Board. There would be at least six country members to, at the most, thtee from Thames. Mr Brenan said that for the past eight years Paeroa had been given no choice in selecting a representative on the Harbour Board. Mr Harris said that the matter would be adjusted when the loan for £69,000 was carried. Immediately the loan was carried Paeroa would have liabilities, and as soon as these liabilities were shouldered by the Paeroa ratepayers equal representation would be given, Mr Buchanan asked what loans were the Harbour Board carrying at the present time. Mr Harris said there was only one loan of £lO,OOO, which was- about 17 yeas old. Of the £lO,OOO loan, accrued interest and sinking fund nad reduced the loan to approximately £5OOO to date. Mr W. Marshall asked if provision had been made for maintenance. Mr Harris said that if the loan was carried the maintenance charges would be very small. Mr Buchanan said he understood that the Harbour Board was in a sound financial condition at present, and as the .returns in dues from th? various wharves had hot disclosed any appreciable increase in revenue, he asked how was the financial position accounted for. Mr Harris replied that the position of the harbour finances was due to the fo'esight and business acumen of Mr N. Gibbs, the secretary. On tne motion of Mr Marshall, seconded by Mr Buchanan, a heary vote of thanks was accorded the delegation for the manner in which they had explained the position regarding the proposed improvements scheme. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.