RECLAMATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1907, Page 2

RECLAMATION.

<- HARBOUR BOARD-CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE. A brief report of the proceedings at the conference ot City Council and Harbour Board representatives, held yesterday afternoon, was printed in last night's Post. Some additional particulars of tho proceedings are now given. The chief points for consideration of the conferenco were embodisd in tho following remit : — (a) How far the present ruling prices of land, together with ths amount of tciAntiou consequent on high "" values, retards the growth of industries and prevents the establishment in the city of important and desirable manufactures. - (b) To ascertain if all necessary fadlities and encouragement are given by the local authorities to promote and foster the manufacturing and commercial interests of the city. (c) Whether the tim'o has not arrived when tho local bodies should unite to acquire an area of land suitable and adequate to meet the prospective growth of the industrial and coinmorchl interests of tho City of Wellington and its provincial district. (d) That special cpnsideration ho given to tho desirability of reclaiming the foreshore at Evans Bay. such reclamation to be ■ comprehensive enough to provide for gaaworks, ship and boat brilding, sawmilling, and any other desirable induatries, together with wharves for the cheap manipulation of the services of the industrial concerns and the erection of an up-to-date power house 'and equipment for the generation and sale of energy, nt the lowest possible rato to consumers, thus enabling manufacturers to develop and compete in the markets of the colonies and elsewhere. (c) That the Wellington Harbour Board be invited to set up a similar committee to unite with the council's committee to take evidence, draft legislative requirements, and to do all thing 3 necessary to remove existing disabilities and to promote and encourage industrial and commercial enterprises in our community. In advocating his scheme, Councillor Luke repeated tho arguments adduced whoa the scheme was nrst promulgated by him. It was impressed on his mind that such industries as engineering aiijd shipbuilding particularly required water frontages, and owing to" tho reclamation works of tho Harbour Board the 1 seafront had been set forward and tho ground built uyou, giving enhanced values to the grounds further back. It was a fact that thore was an area around tho patent slip in Evans Bay that could be rjclainted without extravagant cost, and it seemed to him that the local bodi?s of ths community had cast upon them tho duty of seeing that none of the local industries were allowed to languish' for causes that could be removed by those bodies. That had been tho policy of tho local bodies in the past, and he felt suro that it would still bo pursued. Ho did not advocato the reclamation of a great area of land at oncej what wns needed wivs the reclamatic;\ of a sufficient .area to $?ivo to industries tho accommodation that they needed. Further areas could be reclaimed as demand for (hem arose. Councillor Luke then moved (ho affixmatory motion set out in our issuo oi yesterday. Th 9 motion Was seconded by Councillor Shirtcliffo, who said ho heartily suppwlitl {ho proposal, though ha -was afraid tho ; question of cost of reclamation at Evans Bay might .prove to bo a stumbling block. Councillor Fletchrr also supported ths i motion, his idea, being that further in- j . formation from tho engineers should be ! sought. Councillor Luko was deserving cf thanka for his action in bringing forward tin proposal. Mr. :U-\^orald, M.L.Ci, hepHily en- ' doi-s/td the support ftiven ,to 'jhc'" propor..il>by previous speakers. Tho need for provision of proper areas for our indnstiios wna imperative; it was dcplcrablo, too, thnt lniuls in the centre of . onr city had boe:) iU<vwed for so lontr to bo occupied .by old ivo:i and' 1 tumble- 1 down sheds, and timbcr-v.irds, insteod of by fine buildings. These "rere the proper tl\i»qs to stand nn imrh {iiHCtja, an<\ ths industries should bo piven suifcabh aiv\s nnd locations. Tho local bodies of this city hrd a gravo duty, ns capita! uity of thn colony, to show a good oxamplo to olh-r parts by ms 1 -!'^ n.dnqjiata provisions for all needs cf i*s in/ 1 sistrHl fiannfa.etures, aivd <h"- only v *»y.to do fhit h<»re wns to majinfactrra th-s bind. rlevplopmenfc of the industries of tho city wns an all-iropor^nt mat tor. F/xaoilv wh-it conl'l ho done, they could n«-'f. determine unt.il their pm;rrinrcrs RitbmJHed n firm.l r«pr>rt. on 'tha matt-M*. ' hut h^ mi^«Tst O ocl Nlnt th »••/•., WOiil'l be no difnV.iUy in reclnimi-nr. ?0 t<v JO n-pr-ps oM.-vnd ni"th» h«>nd of Ev.nhs I'.,t*. at coinparativplv STnr.H oxnensp. ! f'lß motion was then put and carried, without dissent.