DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1919, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

A WESTPORT SQUEAL By Telegraph,—Preju Association. Westport, Aug. 2. The financial straits imposed on the Westport Harbor Board under clause 105 of the Finance Act, 11)15, which leaves the board to meet all increases of wages and increased cost of material out of ordinary revenue, and gives the 21 per cent, increase of charges made by the Government (now amounting to £50,000), and intended to meet these abnormal charges, as a clear gift to the Railway Department, is having a crippling effect on the revenues of the Harbor Board, and is hampering tbe development of local industry. It is necessary, in order that a bet to; 1 class of coal may be produced, that a market be found for the slack coal, and the market the coal companies depend upon is the bunkering of vessels. The hoard, however, owing to the stricture on its revenue, is not able to keep the development works going so as to cater for the bunkering of large ships, hence the whole industry is suffering. This is hampering the board's finances, coupled with the complete holding up of the construction of the Buller Gorge railway connection, the largest field of coal in New Zealand, and is causing serious unrest in Weßtport. The chairman of the Harbor Board indicated at a recent meeting that it may be found necessary to resort to public meetings to bring home to the Government the monstrous injustice that is being done to the board and, through it, to the district. SYRIANS WANT OLD AGE PENSIONS Wellington, Last Night. A deputation of Syrians from 'different parts of the Dominion waited on Mr. Myers, Minister of Pensions, -and urged that Syrians should be allowed to receive the old age pension. Mr, O'Regan, who introduced the deputation, pointed out the injustice done by section 71 of the Pensions Act, 1013, which precluded Asiatics from receiving pensions. Members of the deputation pointed out that Syrians were not classed as Asiatics in the Immigration Act. The population of Syria was only about 3J to 4 millions, therefore there was no danger of their coming to this country in large numbers. The Minister promised to place the [ matter before his colleagues at the earliest possible moment, with a view to giving consideration to the question of amending the Act to meet the request* of the deputation.