PROUD OF HIS WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 645, 23 April 1929, Page 11

PROUD OF HIS WORK

MR. MACKENZIE’S SERVICES TO HARBOUR BOARD ADDRESS AT PAPATOETOE Mr. H. R. MacKenzie, who is seeking re-election its chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, addressed a well-attended meeting at Papatoetoe last evening. Mr. F. M. Waters, chairman of the Manukau County Council, in introducing the candidate, said that little interest had been taken in Harbour Board matters in the district. He considered this a pity, as producers should see that they got quick and economic dispatch. In opening his address. Mr. MacKenzie expressed his thanks to Mr. Allen for opposing him. as it gave him an opportunity of letting the electors know what he had done. On looking up the record of the board, he was proud of his sixteen years’ mem- i bership, which constituted a record for j continuous service on the board. He ; was the first country representative on ! the board to be elected as chairman, i and he had held that office for the past seven years, which constituted another record. The candidate stated that the opposition claimed that one living in the district should represent the j district, and preferably a farmer. Mr. MacKenzie said that he had been a practical farmer for a number of years, and held interests in the district, so from his point of view he was fully qualified to hold the position. He considered it the first duty of the members of the board to work in the interests of the port, for quick dispatch and receipt of goods and, secondly, to look after the water interests on shore. For this duty he claimed to be a hundred times better able to attend to the interests of the locality than a representative living 40 miles inland. He was available at any time, and although hotel allowances were granted, he had not cost the board one shilling in l(i years. On his entry to the board, the assets were £ 3,500,000,with an annual revenue of £160,000. To-day the assets were £5,500,000, and the revenue exceeded £390,000. Another thing that Mr. MacKenzie took pride in was the fact that the Agricultural Association had been granted the use of the sheds on the wharf for the holding of the winter show, since his election, and they had had the use of the sheds each year since. The speaker gave a brief summary of the works which have been carried out during his term of office, and said that a programme of works had been laid down lor the next 35 ! years. Even if the whole board went j out, that programme would be adhered to. The Harbour Board Sinking Fund ! was controlled by four commissioners, the speaker being one of the number. £70,000 was lent annually, and of the £392,000 at present invested, over £312,000 was lent on farm lands. Mr. MacKenzie gave an interestingaccount of his trip abroad, and claimed that he came back with double the knowledge that he went away with. He was offering his services again at the unanimous wish of every member of the board. A vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. A. W. Hall. M.P. for Hauraki, was carried unanimously.