HARBOUR AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 8

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

BOARD'S ANNUAL MEETING MB HARKNESS ELECTED CHAIRMAN. The annual meeting .of the Wellington Harbour BoaTd was held yesterday, the following being present:—Messrs. C. E. Daniell (chairman). C. M. Turrell, J. H. tlarkncss. W. Cable. C. J.. B. Norwood. C. H. Chapman. M. W. Welch. J. W. Mcßwan. J. G Cable. A. D. MoLeod, E, E. Sinclair, R. A. Wright, and Captain McArtbur. Mi- R, E. Sinclair proposed Mr Harkness as chairman of the board. JMr VV. Cable seconded the motion. Mr MeEwan proposed an amendment that Mr Daniell be re-elected and thii was seconded by Mr Cobbe. , Mr Daniell declined the nomination, saying 'that he had done his best, but felt that Mr Harkness might very well be appointed to tho position. Mr Daniell expressed .appreciation ol the cordial manner in which members had supported him and remarked that he had occupied the chair for four years and had been a member for sixteen years. The conditions brought about by the war had delayed construction work and the board had been compelled to adopt a policy of caution. If Wellington was to hold its own as a general distributing centre the board would have to provide all possible wharf ■ and "shed facilities. But for the war Wellington'would have been further., ahead that it was. He estimated that the increased wharf charges, would amount to about 80 per cent. The speaker regretted that labour matters should divide the parties administering the board's affairs and referred to the fact that' the stop-work meeting on Saturday last had considerably interfered with the operations of the port. He trusted that in *he future the differences of the two factions would be adjusted; and expressed pleasure that the Labour panty was proceeding on constitutional lines. Other members agreed with the stntlments expressed by the chairman. ,' Mr C. H. Chapman, who was elected to the board in the Labour interests, remarked that all the delays on Lhe waterfront were not due to the workers. On. the motion being put Mr Harsuess was unanimously elected chairman of the board. In the oourse of his speech the new chairman expressed the hope that there would be no increase in the wlii.rf oharges during the coming ye at. He also looked forward to a settlement of tho difierenoes between employers and employees.