FOXTON PORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 139, 12 May 1930, Page 9

FOXTON PORT.

(From Our Own Correspondent). FOXTON, May 10. A lengthy discussion took place at the meeting of tho Foxton Chamber of Commerce concerning tho port. Mr H. Osborne said that supposing the saving on goods through tho local port was only 10s per ton, and a vessel was able to bring 200 tons on a draught of seven feet, at seven trips per month tho saving would bo £7OO per month, and yet,_ Palmerston North complained of having to pay its rate quota of £400.” Mr D. Christie considered that tho recent criticism of the board would do a lot of good. He 6aid that he would soonew see £2OO spent on improving the river than in planting marram grass and lupins at tho beach. The board’s first duty was to make tho river navigable; if they wanted tho business they would have to make the river fit for shipping. Mr Osborne: "If the boats were running regularly there would be no need to strike a rate.” The chairman (Mr J. K. Hornblow) said tho Railway Department received in the vicinity of £2OOO annually in revenue from the wharf. This amount was paid into the railways account and nothing ever put back into tho port. In those circumstances the Foxton branch line was tho best paying branch in New Zealand. When the Harbour Board was resuscitated tho Railway Department demanded £20,000 for the wharf, but a commission was appointed which fixed the price at £SOOO. The Jate chairman of tho Harbour Board then canvassed the district and promised local bodies that if they sanctioned the formation of a rating area no rates would ever bo levied. As a result the wharf was taken over and the board was still bearing the burden of tiro loan. Tho late chairman confidently thought there would have been enough shipping to the port to find sufficient money to pay interest and sinking lund and to provide working expenses. Shipping had slumped with the advent of motor traffic, but was now picking up again and tho port was almost selfsupporting, he added. In view of tho fact that the question will probably be again reviewed by the Harbour Board, no action was taken by the chamber.