FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40017, 31 October 1929, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT

The following is the chairman's (Mr. J. Linkl'ater, M.P.,) annual report to be submitted to the Fox ton Harbour Board at its meeting on Monday:— IMPROVED SHIPPING.

“In submitting my annual report for the yeair ended 30th 'September, 1929, I desire to say that, consequent upon 'the compulsory abandonment of the service by the s.s. Kennedy, early in the year, the shipping barometer has had a very serious set-back for the first nine months of the period under review; but, fortunately for the port and its ratepayers, the s.s. Himatangi and the m.v. Foxton entered the service with zest and resuscitated shipping' to such an extent as to restore any losses by a material trade (recovery. With these new boats in the running, trade by way. of Foxton, has much to commend itself to shippers and consignees alike and I earnestly hope that a fair measure of support will he accorded them in their endeavour to re-establish and warrant the service. Doubtless with a regular service as at present obtaining the port will hold its own for many years to come.

“Through lack of shipping the freights for the year have also had a decided set-back but the figures for the last quarter show a material advance in 'the restoration of freights to normality. RIVER, IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

“The proposed ‘cut’ in the Manavvatu River continues to be one of some magnitude with an apparent diversity of opinions overcrowding the issue and as the majority of the members could not see their way clear in supporting a request upon the Government for a £1 for £1 subsidy for the prosecution of the work, action on the part of the Board in this connection had to be withheld. ENDOWMENT LEASES. “During 'the year no less than ten fresh leases have been executed and in addition your endowment known as ‘Rush Flat’ has been added to the list, of rent-earning properties. Inquiries for suitable sections are still cur-rent and I feel certain that there is ample scope at Te Wharangi to satisfy them all. TREE PLANTING. “Tree-planting on the accretion land during 'the year has been one of the foremost activities of the Board and from inspection recently made by me good work has been accomplished. There is room for further work being done from time to time and in my opinion the planting of suitable shelter trees should he undertaken every year. On land such as this, good results can be obtained by planting marram and lupins in advance of pine-'trees in order to afford the latter protection from the prevailing wind. Instructions in preparatory work have been noted by the staff and in season I hope to see them carried out. CALLING UP RATE. “With hesitancy we have, during the year, called up the differential special rate to pay the yearly interest and sinking fund on the loan raised for the purchase of the wharf and accessories and to relieve the pressure brought., to bear upon the ordinary income of the Board for incidentals and contingencies. This, I hope, will be nonrecurring as it is by no means a popular move. ENLARGING BORROWING POWERS.

“The proposal in a form of a remit authorising Boards of limited' dimensions to raise a certain sum for the purchase of suitable boats for 'their respective trades was placed by me and my colleague, Mr. Nash, M.P., before the last conference of the New Zealand Harbours Association at Auckland. That body, I am pleased to report, has seen fit to adopt it.

_ “Old -age has got the Railway YVjharf on the run and the necessity for immediate repairs is obviously awaiting action. Funds are by no means plentiful and the only source from which we may be enabled to avail ourselves of the work is to again strike the diliarential special rate.

RAILWAY PREFERENTIAL RATE.

“The Railway Preferential Rate has, for some time past, been a bone of contention between the Board and the Department. Up to the present we have made little or uo progress in this protracted war for justice. The principle involved is, in my opinion, erratic and lends itself to much dissatisfaction wheresoever it is enforced. DUMPING CABBAGE TREES. “The matter of dumping cabbagetrees on the river foreshore at Koputaroa. and beyond has, since February last, given the Board much concern and .worry. From a recent report I find that no less than 50 or more trees have been washed away from one bank and that one tree in particular has bene seen floating by the Railway Wharf.

“It is unnecessary for me to point out that unless the cabbagetrees are securely anchored they will become a very serious menace to shipping. The attention of the Marine .Department has been drawn to this matter from time to time and up to the present three official inspections have been made with another ponding. To obstruct such a practice is tantamount to creating a hardship upon those who are endeavouring to protect their properties from erosion, but if action in the matter of securely tying the trees back to the bank in wanting then I say that it is high time for the Board to vigorously move for obstacles to be placed in the way.

LIFE SAVING. “Life-saving at Manawatu Heads during the year has been given a new birth and the co-operation of the Mayor and citizens of Foxton tlif formation of n life-saving club should not be a difficult problem to solve. In the summer months the want, of a patrol corps is keenly fell on account of the visitors from the country and inland towns being invariably indifferent about faking adequate precautions against receding tides. Additional public warning notices have been erected at various points and I sincerely hope that these, together with other means yet to be devised, will render our popular summer resort eminently safe for all those who congregate there during the holidays. WHARF AND SHED ACCOMMODATION. “Wharf and shed accommodation extensions are matters of -vital importance and. require serious consideration. With these added facilities the port will doubtless be worked on more economical lines. At present the staff is hopelessly waging war against sharks which assuredly devour the Board’s profits. From all sources the loss is as much as £3OO to £350 per annum. This yearly waste is liable to increase with the present shipping on account of the 'limited space and lac-k of facilities obtaining. The haulage of . trucks is naollicr question which must be considered side bv side with the foregoing matters because one is as im-

portant'as the other. With these observations I hope you will assist me in framing such, (recommendations as lie within our means to carry out. DRIFTING SAND. “The sand country on the south side of the Manawatu River is a source of much sand finding its way to the bar and channel and as long as it remains in private hands no satisfactory river protection wort- will be undertaken. The salvation of the shipping channel and river lies in planting this area with suitable shelter trees. Representations have been made by me to the Marine Department for the acquisition of this country, more partienVutly that portion adjacent to the foreshore. The Department’s report is expected and I am hoping that this will soon be available. THE LATE SIR J. G. WILSON. “I have to again mention the loss sustained by the Dominion in the demise of the late Sir James G. Wilson who was one of the foundation members of the Board and who did so much to make the. purchase of the wharf from the Railway Department possible. To those nearest and dearest to him I give utterance to my tribute of respect to such a distinguished personality. BEAICH IMPROVEMENT COM- / MITTEE. “I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the activities of the Beach Improvement Committee for the impcoT#memts effected at Te Wharangi and for voluntary services rendered by its individual members. Iu this connection I have to- commend all for their valuable services in the interest of the beach and its environments.

“In conclusion I desire to thank., you for your loyal support accorded me during the year and for the very keen interest you have evinced in the work' and welfare of the Board and I sincerely hope that the current year will mark a further era of prosperity and success.”

TREASURERS REPORT. “In presenting the annual statement on the Board’s finances for the year ended September 30th, 1920, it will lie noticed that the position- of the Board in reference to the General Account is not as satisfactory as one could wish; but when the question of lack of shipping to the port during the past nine months of the period undar review is taken into account the members will readily see that the fall in revenue is unavoidable.

“The following are comparative expenses incurred out of the General Account for 1327/28 and 1028/20, Ihe expenses incurred in 1927/28 being given in parenthesis :

Salaries £732 15/-, (£791 8/8) kerosene, etc. £27 14/10, (£44 14/10); maintenance, etc. £46 12/2, (£45 12/1); plant, etc. £l6 7/6, (£77 7/7); office and general expenses £l7l 1/6, (£241 15/10); handling, etc. £358 7/9, (£685 0/9); dredging, etc. nil, (£29 8/9); insurance, etc. £123 3/3, (£lO4 5/6); travelling expenses £43, (nil); miscellaneous £6B 0/4, (£lßl 7/4); interest and sinking fund £IOOO, (£1210). “Salaries. —The expenditure under this head appears abnormally large, but this is due principally to the payment to the Harbourmaster of the sum of £SO for accumulated holidays over .the period of four years.

“Kerosene, etc. —The downward tendency under this head is due to the lack of shipping during the greater part of the year. “Maintenance and Repairs. — There is a slight upward tendency under this head and difficulty has been experienced in avoiding such expenditure. 'Plant, etc. —Through lack of facilities for expeditious handling store trucks had to be obtained and with these added improvements much has been saved in handling costs. In so far as the expenditure on the water supply fittings enumerated under this head all that can be said is that the service is selfsupporting. “Office and General Expenses:— Under this head the interest on the overdraft is the outstanding feature and with the improvement in shipping now obtaining this item

can, I hope, be reduced to a minimum.

“Handling, etc. —The major portion of the expenditure under this head has been incurred during the latter part of the year owing to the volume of business and trade turnover being transacted at the port.

“Insurance.—The increase in expenditure here is due principally to the excess under the Employers’ Liability Accident Cover otherwise little or no movement has occasioned.

“Travelling Expenses.—This expenditure extends from January, 1927 to May, 1929. It is, therefore, incorrect to regard same as a. fair loading on the year's income under review. “Miscellaneous. —This account show's a downward tendency and in it there is no cause for alarm. “Interest, etc. —The expenditure in this is a fixture and has no movement one way or the other if paid up promptly. COMPARATIVE RECEIPTS. The comparative list of receipts for 1927/28 and 1928/29 is as follows: — Pilotage £lO2 18/-, (£196 7/-); river lighting £34 15/-, (£63 5/-); wharfage, in £854 1/11, (£1631 0/1); wdiarfage, out £93 1/4, (£219 19/7); ship’s dues £36 2/4, (£24 3/1); rent £699 4/2, (£576 6/7).; miscellaneous £l7l 13/9, (£351 1/6); differential special rate £585 7/3, (nil). “The receipts for the year from shipping show a material set back owing to reasons already explained, but far the current year I hope to find a decided improvement. “Sundry Creditors. —'The sundry creditors’ liability for the year apart from the bank and those in receipt of the tenants’ contribution stands at. £122 14/10. “Sundry Debtors. —The sundry debtors’ obligation to the Board as at the end of September, 1929, is £IO2O 2/7, and the staff is hopeful of collecting the whole of this amount.

The following is a comparative list of the incomes for 1927/28 and 1928/29: — Differential special rate £IOOO, (nil); pilotage £lO7 16/6, (£197 16/-); river lighting £3B, (£59); wdiarfage, in £790 19/10, (£1722 11/3); wharfage, out £IOO 0/8, (£2lB 10/5); ship’s dues £35 10/-, (£26 8/9); rent £6lB 18/6, (£472 17/11); fire insurance nil, (£180); storage £55 10/-, (£66 16/4); miscellaneous £47 0/7, (£76 0/4). The comparative expenditure, for 1927/28 and 1928/29 is as follows :

Salaries £696 5/-, (£791 8/8); kerosene, dtc. £33 6/2, (£44 14/10); maintenance, etc.’ £45 9/5, (£49 9/7); office and general expenses £lB5 3/11, (£214 7/6); handling’, etc. £358 7/1, (£668 0/3); insurances, etc. £123 3/3, (£lO4 5/6); miscellaneous £52 4/10, (£53 17/4); travelling expenses £22, (£l9 10/-); interest and sinking fund £IOOO, (£1000).

“Conclusion.—The foregoing is the result of my review for the year and I have much pleasure in commending samo for your earnest consideration and adoption.”