THAMES HARBOUR FINANCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 12

THAMES HARBOUR FINANCES

When the Thames Harbour Board carried the poll to raise £60,000 for harbour improvements, it was thought that the revenue would obviate the striking of a rate. At Tuesday’s meeting of the board the chairman, Mr. J. W. Danby, said it was with disappointment .that he brought forward a proposal to strike a rate of Id in the £ on the capital valuation of the whole of the borough for the year 1928-29. He had thought that the board’s reserves would have carried matters over until the scheme was self-supporting. The board would collect about £3,600 by the rate. Continuing, Mr. Dj%jby said to finish the board’s scheme £3,000 is required, but no funds are available, and the work of deepening the channel has stopped, mainly because the dredge is not capable of ejecting the spoil through the pipes to the dump. The Public Works Department has been approached with a scheme whereby the board hands over its plant to the department in consideration of the completion of the work by the Public Works Department. The plant to be bartered cost £15.000. The balance sheet presented by the treasurer disclosed that the revenue for the year was £4,272 11s 7d, and the expenditure was less by £862 than the estimate. The revenue of the board for the past four years is: 1924, £4.558: 1925, £4,341; 1927. £0,616; 1928, £3.605.