FOXTON’S PORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1506, 10 April 1919, Page 3

FOXTON’S PORT.

IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTED. BOARD TO CO-OPERATE WITH. MERCHANTS. Important work in connection with the development of Foxton as a port was foreshadowed at a meeting of the Eoxton Harbour Board- yesterday morning, when reference Was made by tiio chai’rfmm (Mr P. J. Jlonnefoy) to the desirableness of endeavouring to promote the erection by merchants of wharves ahd distributing stores along the north • side of the river. The cost of those could be recovered by the merchants by means of a scries of annual payments by the board spread over a fairly lengthy period. As things were the board itself could not undertake this work, on account, of its limited finances. I In supporting the suggestion. Mr Holben moved'titat a committee be set up to negotiate with applicants for storage sites, the committee to;consist of Iho chairman and Mr Barber with power to add to its number and to report to the board. Mr Holboii wont on to say that the chairman's suggestion was a very good one, and the big merchants were undoubtedly anxious to make use of tho_ port, provided they could get suitable sites for storage sheds and wharfage facilities. Mention was ma'do by the chairman that the Vacuum Oil Company had, amongst others, written applying for a. site. It would bo it big tiling' for the port if this company located at Foxton. On account of the high railway freights it would pay the company to take full advantage of the port, if sufficient facilities were offering. Mr J. A. ■ Nash, M.P.', was strongly of opinion that the hoard ought to meet at Foxton and go over the ground before entering into any negotiations. Some definite scheme .should be presented to the applicants for storage sites. He moved as an amendment that the board meet' at Foxton with a view of plans being prepared of any available sites for buildings. Ho commended the chairman’s scheme for providing wharves and sheds. Mr Holben withdrew his motion in favour of Mr Nash’s amendment, which was unanimously adopted. It was also decided, on the suggestion of Mr J. Linklater, to secure plans of the foreshore from the Railway Department. Before passing on to other business, the chairman reported that he had recently interviewed the Minister for Marino, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. The Minister had remarked that he was very pleased .to see that the Beard was trying to live within its means. He (Mr Wilford) assured them that he would do his utmost for any board that adopted this commendable policy. Without mentioning any particular board, the Minister had quoted a number of cases where harbour’ boards were running beyond their means. Genera] satisfaction was expressed by members at the attitude of the Minister.