HARBOR BOARD CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 54, 31 January 1884, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD CONFERENCE.

The Conference between the members of the Harbor Board and the Cook County Council relating to the reconstruction of the Harbor Board took place last night in the Borough Council Offices.

There were present his Worship the Mayor (Captain T. W. Porter) and Town Councillor! Townley, Lewis, Joyce, Hepburn, Smith, Brown, and Tucker, and Messrs. Chambers (Chairman of the Cook County Council), Milner, Weston, Ferris, Johnson, Gannon, and Clark.

Mr. Chambers briefly stated that the members of the County Council attended with a view of discussing the question of the reconstruction of the Harbor Board. They had not come there to put any definite scheme before the Conference as to the mode of reconstruction, but simply to discuss the advisability of the measure. The Harbor Board would shortly be called upon to undertake extensive works, which would necessitate their going to the County for means, and it was only fair that the County should have a voice in the expenditure of the money. All those who were rated should have a voice in the representation of the Board. No doubt the present Board was capable of conducting its affairs for some time to come, but change was imminent in the immediate future, and they had come there for the purpose of discussing what arrangements could be made with a view to that end. The Chairman thanked Mr. Chambers and the gentlemen of the County Council for the

explicit manner in which they ha 4 introduced the question. He would ask them to form themselves into a Committee, and to discuss the matter. Mr. Chamber! had mniited one remark, and that was that he thought it necessary to adhere to the question as to the advisability of reconstruction, and not to go into the matter as to what that reconstruction should be. He would now propose, “ That Captain Porter take the chair.” This was seconded and carried unanimously. The Chairman said he thought that they had better adhere to the one question of reconstruction, and not go beyond that. He hoped that no one would hastily propose any resolutions Without discusiuon and mature bonsideration. He would now ask Mr. chambers to expound his views. . Mr. Chambers had very little more to say. When the County ratepayers were called bpon to eon tribute towards' the harbor imnrovements—which they undoubtedly would be before long—they should certainly have a voice in the election of members. It cer-

tainly would be more satisfactory for all parties if such was the case. Before proceeding further, he might say that, though Or. Gannon had been reported as saying that the present Harbor Board was incom—petant, it was only just to that gentleman to say that such was not the ease, but he would leave all those things behind and go forward. Captain Tucker here rose to object to members being confined to one speech. The Chairman said the Harbor Board had only to listen to the County Councillors and then to rtply. The members of the County Council no doubt had some definite proposal and when that was stated all that remained was to reply. The question of reconstruction having arisen with the County Council they could not expect to hear anything from the Board until they had stated their views. Mr. Chambers said they had not come there for the purpose of propounding anv scheme for reconstruction but only to ask that ratepayers should have a voice in the construction of th? Harbor Board. He would now bail upon Councillor Gannon to express his view upon the question. Mr. Gannon thought Mr, Chambers had explained nearly all that was necessary. But as there appeared to be nothing coming from the other aide he would say that the present position was simply that this place had a Harbor Board quite dissimilar to any other place in the Colony and the only precedent Was Invercargill, The reason for the Governmeat taking the line of action it had was on account of a dispute having arisen between the Borough Council and a private firm, and with a view of bringing about an amicable arrangement and facilitating a settlement of the vexed question the Government had con. ■tituted the Borough Council a Harbor Board. In the next place there must shortly be large sums of money raised and laid out in harbor improvements and all the county would be asked io subscribe as there appeared no chance of getting any Government aid. He had a few figures there which he Would read, although they did not go further than approximation. The property tax of the county amounted to £1,641,589, whilst the borough w&s only £266,115. Then, again, all*the exports came from the county in the shape of wool, which amounted to some £150,676, whilst only £8,879 was attributable to all other sources. Thus it would be shown that wool formed nearly the whole of the exports. Then again nearly five-sixths the value of the property laid outside the borough, and yet these people had no voice in the Board and no control whatever over the wharves. There was nothing whatever to prevent the present Board, on receipt of the foreshore grants from leasing the whole of the foreshore for the full term of fourteen years without the county having auy voice whatever in the matter. It was true the present Board was a most able one, but then there would not always be the same members to deal with the question. Then who had fixed the price for the wharves. Might not the Borough Conncil consist of interested people. But all this was not the toost important part of the question. So long as the Harbor Board and Borough Council were the same body they could only get at the most the revenue of the wharf and foreshore. When money was wanted for the harbor improvements they must go to the people for it. He had ctrefully considered the matter, and thought that from ten to fifty thousand might easily be raised at a very small cost to the ratepayers. As to Sir John Coode’s plan for harbor, he did not think we were sufficiently advanced to entertain that; but if some £20,000 or £30,000 were required for deepening the river, it could be obtained fit five per cent., the rate paid by Auckland and elsewhere, and would only require a rate of five-eighths of a penny. Of this sum the Borongh would only have to contribute about £lBO a year, and the County the balance. The Colonial credit was good on the Home market, and he could not see that there could be any difficulty in carrying out the scheme. This small rate would have the effect of enormously increasing the value of property. Then, the export of frozen meat had become such a valuable industry that it would, undoubtedly, become one of our staple trades, and there would be noplace along the Coast like this port providing the river was so deepened as to permit large vessels entering it, Taking these and other matters into consideration, it was plain that great necessity existed for the proposed change, The Council did not wish t« usurp the Position of the Board, so had not venturea to propose any scheme of re-eonstiuc-Mon, but only the necessity for it. If the proposed change was not laid before the next session of Parliament, the progress of the place would be greatly retarded. The County asked the co-operation of the Board, and if this was given, there was a prospect of the newly-constructed Board commencing operations at the beginning of the New Tear. He hoped all would see the wisdom of the propoaal. On the Chairman asking Mr. Chambers if bl had ahv motion to lay before the meeting, Mri Chambers said he had not. He did not wish to go further than the question as to the advisability of re-construction. Mr. Smith would ask whether the members

of the County Council were unanimous in their wish for reconstruction.

Mr. Chambers answered in the affirmative. Mr, Smith thought the question had arisen through the apparent necessity for harbor improvements. The Chairman wished to know whether upon the reconstruction of the Board the County Council were prepared to immediately go in for harbor improvements, Mr. Chambers said if not immediately, in the near future. Mr. Townley wished to say something as to the alleged inability of the present Board undertaking any loan or extensive works. Mr. Gannon seemed to think it deficient in that respect. Mr. Chambers did not tax the Board with incompetency. He wished to see a fuller representation. ~ Kf. Joyce wished to know whether the caity Council were in favor of river improvements or a breakwater. Mr. Chambers thought these questions entirely wide of the mark. Mr. Ferris did not think the question relevant to the matter at issue, and failed to see why the question should be put. Mr. Tucker thought they were commencing at the tail of the question. He was disappointed at the turn things had taken. They should discuss the broader question, as to what was best for the public, and not whether the members of the Board should vacate their seats or not. It had been said there was nothing to prevent the present Board from doing what they liked. The same could be said of any Board, however constructed. It was further urged that the Harbor Board and Council might come into confliction. The present Harbor Board had been going on for twelve months, and nothing had arisen. He could not see why a member of the Harbor Board should not be fitted to set on any other board, or vice vena. Could not be any objection to this. The members of the councils were better qualified to sit on the Harbor Board than others. If there was anything to advance, any complaint to be made against the present Board— Mr. Chambers rose to a point of order. The County Council disclaimed finding any fault with the present Board. Cr. Tucker wished to be shown any reason why the Borough Council should not be the Harbor Board. He could not see any. The present constitution had been working in amity for twelve months and had worked well, and he could not see any reason why they should not do so for the future. Cr. Gannon said the reason why the

Borough Council had been made the Harbor Board was because of the Common, Shelton difficulty. Cr. Tucker thought the Borough Council the beet body to form a Harbor Board, As to the deepening of the river, that could be considered bye-aud-by. Let the main question be first discussed, and then the rest could follow. The figures showed that a very small rate would be sufficient to either deepen the river or perhaps undertake the construction of a breakwater. The inability of that Board to borrow was the same as all others. He did not see that any steps for reconstruction could possibly be taken this year. Mr. Chambers said the County Council had not contemplated any change before next year, Mr. Tucker thought the next question should be how the change should b? effected, He wished to say he was always ready to listen to anything for the general good, but wished to know some reasons for making |the change.

Mr. Gannon would ask Mr. Tucker whether the present Harbor Board had any scheme to advance for harbor-works. If they could show any scheme how they would go on with it, he would wish them to retain their seats. Mr. Tucker said the present Board was not prepared with any particular scheme. A number of schemes had been considered, but none selected. The Engineer had declared that deepening the river would be a very expensive scheme. Mr. Gannon wished to know if they had decided how and where to get the money, Mr. Tucker said they had not considered how to raise the money, Mr. Gannon wished to know whether the Harbor Board had thought about taxing people beyond the Borough. If so it would be very un-English. In other parts of the world those who paid the rates were the people who had power to elect. Mr. Tucker thought the present Harbor Board was good enough for the work it had to do at present. They would soon have to put their hand into the treasury chest; So far thia paternal Government had deprived this place of its dues, when compared to other places. Mr. Lewis thought the discussion had entirely gone away from the main question. Mr, Gannon had harped on the question as to what power the present Board had to raise money. The present Board had the same power of getting a Rating Bill passed as any other Board. If this was done the Board could rate the County whether they liked. or not; Instead of agitating for reconstruction they should combine to get grants. When the time arrived he would be one of the first to wish to see the County represented on the Board. The present Board had fulfilled its duties well. The present was not a fitting time to ask for reconstruction.

Mr. Joyce came there to disousss the question of reconstruction, but the County Council had not given any reason for alteration that could be deemed sufficient to justify the alteration.

Mr. Gannon said he had asked whether the Harbor Board was ready to go into any particular scheme for the improvement of the harbor, because the same question had been asked the County Council, He was in fuvor of river improvements for the present. When the population increased sufficiently the breakwater scheme could be considered. The river improvements could be accomplished for somewhere about £50,000, whereas the larger scheme would cost £250,000 or more. Mr. Townley rose to a point of order. The harbor works was no part of the business. Mr. Joyce had not heard a single valid reason urged in favor of the proposed change. As to the representation of the County, most of the present Board were County ratepayers. The question was not at all a public but a party one. Mr. Johnson was glad to hear the discussion, and was of opinion that Mr. Gannon’s motion was a most advisable one. Had considered the matter, and thought it advisable to make the change. At first he had thought it correct to let the present Board take its own course, but had altered his opinion since being present. He understood Mr. Tucker or some one else had said that the Harbor Board had considered going into extensive works, and were thinking of taxing the County. If so, the County should have a voice in the matter. He wished Mr. Gannon had put the matter as to whether the reconstruction was to be part of a harbor scheme. Thought harbor works should be national, and that the Government should do it. If not, people should put their hands in their pockets. Mr. Townley had listened patiently, and had heard nothing in its favor. Thought the agitators had come with a full scheme for the proposed reconstruction. Mr. Gannon said the Board was not sufficiently representative, but the answer was that the present Board as constituted was more elective than most other harbor boards. He agreed that Harbor Board should not rate county. The Chairman had also expected that something definite would be presented to the Board. Mr. Gannon sunposad what was really meant was that the County Council had come there for an object and made a mess of it. The Chairman thought that was bo. Mr. Gannon said that if the Harbor Board took the position of being in possession cf nine points of the law, arid wotild hot move without force, he could understand whkt course to take, and the letter was the only matter for discussion. Mr. Townley (continuing) said he thought Mr. Gannon had put forward the harbor scheme. But he would leave that and go to reconstruction. He did not want to go to the House every session for powers. They should combine the question of reconstruction and powers for harbor scheme at the same time. If the Board carried out works without going to the County, how then ? The present Board could apply for an Act as well sb any other Board. Mr. Tucker had made a statement, but he had never heard a word in the Harbor Board as to rating the County. He had heard nothing advanced which would justify going to the Government and asking for reconstruction, He had heard no single argument in its favor. As to giving the present Board time for “ getting their house in order” before the change, they were ready to leave at any moment.

The Chairman had paid great attention to all that had been said, and he must own to being much disappointed. He had expected to hear some reasons for the change, as he knew of none. He thought the County Council, who had said the Harbor Board was not representative enough, had been themselves able to go into the scheme; but, if they entered into any scheme necessitating going to the County he certainly should have asked the co-operation of the County Council. The present Board was certainly as competent to go to Government and ask for powers as any other body that could be constructed. If any feasible scheme had been proposed he would have been the first to have left his present position, whatever the opinion of his colleagues, and have gone with the County Council. He had certainly expected some definite scheme. He himself had far more interest in the County than in the Borough. In order to bring matters to an issue he would propose the following resolution without consulting his fellowCouncillors: —“ That, in the opinion of this Conference (having in view the interests of the district at large) the time has arrived when steps should be taken to construct extensive harbor works. That to carry out this object a Bill be framed for presentation before the next session of Parliament to get all necessary powers, and to reconstruct the constitution of the present Harbor Board, to afford a full representation of the whole district for the purpose of carrying out the contemplated works. That a committee of this Conference be appointed to carry out the resolution.” He thought the time had come for both bodies to join in endeavoring to obtain the improvements sought without going to the ratepayers at all. Mr. Chambers having seconded the motion, the Chairman put the same to the meeting, and it was carried on the voices. The following gentlemen were then appointed to act as the Committee: —Messrs. Chambers, Gannon, Johnson, Townley, Lewis, Porter, Ferris, Smith, Tucker, and Clark, six to form a quorum, the Committee to meet that day fortnight. The Chairman having congratulated the meeting on the amicable manner in which the Conference had been conducted, the meeting closed.