FOXTON DISTRICT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 19 June 1915, Page 13

FOXTON DISTRICT

PROGRESS RETARDED. CONTROL OE THE WHARF. Matters affecting the welfare of Foxton and district have been having tho serious attention of Mr. W, H. Field, M.P., and in a letter to the Prime Minister (the Right Hoil. W. I l '. Massey) lie has drawn attention to various matters which are held to ho retarding the district. "The progress of Foxton," ho says, "is retarded by three main causes. These are large holdings of land fit for cutting into smalt areas, and capable of much more improvement, the sand drift nuisance, and the control of tho Foxton Wharf by the Railway Department. With reference to the Foxton Wharf the position i 6 still most unsatisfactory. The Railway Department obtained the wharf_ for a few hundred pounds, or nothing at all, I am not sure which, and are now asking about £30,000 for it. They base their claim on the fact that they have been netting something like £1500 a year from it during the last few years. Most of the inoney should have been spent in improving the river, and had the wharf been in the hands of the Harbour Board or the Government it would have had to be so spent, under the Harbours Aot, but the Railway Department have done practically nothing to the river, and have simply prut the gross receipts in their pockets, called it net earnings, and l by capitalising it have worked up the value of the structure—which is fast falling into decay—to £30,000. That is to say, the more they have neglected the rirer ( or the mor© money they have taken which should have gone to improve the river, the'higher is the price whioh they now ask from the unfortunate people in that district. _ This matter is likely presently to be investigated by an arbitration tribunal, when it is hoped that tho district aiid people may receive at least some measure of justice." Regarding closer settlement, Mr. Field said:—"l am myself unable to supply particulars of the holdings in the district, but 1 believe that if acquired by tho Government there is a largo area of land at Moutoa which would provide a magnificent public asset. ... If the three matters I mention were to receive' due attention by the Government, Foxton would become a thriving port, and the district round it one of tho most nourishing and productive in the Dominion. At present it is hopelessly kept back by the causes mentioned." Yesterday Mr. Field an interview with the Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. H. Herries) on the subject of the transfer of the Foxton Wharf from the Railway Department to the Foxton Harbour Board. The matter has been the subject of much negotiation and discussion for some years past. The Minister informed Mr. Field that he had been advised by the SolicitorGeneral that legislation would be necessary in order to enable the Railway Department to sell, and that he was most »nxious to. get ahead with the Royal Commission which it is proposed to set up for the purpose of fixing the price which the board should pay to the Department. He is now waiting for the result of conferences and correspondence which are taking place between the solicitors to the board and tho SolicitorGeneral on the subject. It would appear, therefore, that definite aotion is likely to- be taken within the course of the next week or two. Mr. Field is urging upon the_ Government the necessity of acquiring any largo estates in his electorate which may be capable of being subdivided into smaller holdings and carrying a larger population, and in cases where the land is not being used to tho best advantage in tho interests of the country. The Minister of Lands has promised that an inspection will be made by the Land Purchase Officers of the Crown of several properties which have been mentioned, and it is hoped by tho settlers that more than on© mil be secured and submitted to the public at an early 1 date. One owner in the vicinity of Levin has recently offered his property to the Government through Mr. Field, which property is capable of being cut into several dairy farms. CLOSER SETTLEMENT NEEDED. ißy Tel«irrai)ll.—Press Association/ Foxton, June 17. A petition containing over 500 signatures was recently presented to the Prime Minister, praying l that the Government acquire an area of land at Moutoa for closer settlement. Yesterday Mr. Broderick, Commissioner of Crown Lands, inspected the area, and will report. It is generally agreed that Foxton's future depends upon closer settlement. -Some of the land is the most fertile in the Dominion, and is easily accessible.