MOKAU HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 2

MOKAU HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the above was held on the 10th inst., Mr. S. Whitehead presiding. There were afso present: Messrs. W. J. McKeown, Geo. Sage, J. R. Terrill, A. G. Sampson and A. W. Sole. Messrs. McKeown and Sage, two recently appointed members, received a cordial welA motion was carried sympathising with Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., on the death of his wife. It was decided to write to Mr. Brown senr., of Te Koporu, asking hian to state definitely a price for assembling the snagging plant, and a time at which he would be prepared to commence the work. In the course of a discussion on the advisability or otherwise of increasing wharfage dues all round, it was apparent there was considerable diversity of opinion among members. Old ’members contended that as the proposed increase in wharfage dues would, on present, traffic to the port, result in an addition of £6O to the board’s funds annually, such to be taken in conjunction with the Government subsidy of £l5O per annum, there would be sufficient to meet the board’s expenses until such time as the river was snagged and the mineral resources exploited. New members were of the opinion that the fairest and most equitable method iof raising the amount required would be by a general rate struck over as wide an area as possible.—lt was decided that the secretary write to the Department of Marine asking whether the Mokau Harbor Board had anydefined general rating area apart from the special rating area. It was pointed out that to take a poll of ratepayers on the subject of a general rate would cost anything up to £lOO, with the risk of it not being carried out. A sub-committee, consisting of the chairman, Mr. Geo. Sage, Mr. D. Black, and the secretary, was appointed to go into the question of the revision -of wharfage dues at a meeting to be held on March 20, and report to the next meeting. It was decided that future meetings of the Harbor Board be held on the second Thursday in each, month at 10 a.m. The change made is in. the interest of river members, who will now be enabled to return to their homes the - same day, instead of having to remain in Mokau over night. The secretary was directed to write to the firm having custody of the engine for the snagging punt, with a view to finding out what its position was with regard to wet weather.