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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9140, 23 August 1888, Page 4

O>~E of the most serious and difficult questions of the session came up in the House of Representatives last night when the Premier proposed the second reading of the Harbours Act Amendment Bill. It deals with the harbours of the Thames, Waitara, New Plymouth and Pa tea. All the bodies these harbours are in an eniby.rrais.sed position. The Thames Harbour Hoard has already made default of the interest; uue to the Government Savings JJant Department; while all the others mentioned are in a precarious state. By the Bill, power is given to the Governor-in-Council to make and collect harbour dues at these ports, which virtually means that their debts are to lie assumed by the colony. With regard to New Plymouth, it is to be enabled to borrow money to pay the interest which it is notable to meet, the security being the land revenue already assigned to the harbour, and which has not hitherto proved sufficient. The Premier put matters frankly enough when he said that default on the part of all those bodies would cause a public scandal. He warned the House that it they rejected the Bill they would have the whole of the liabilities of the ; e Boards cast on the colony. Everyone who looks back a few years must remember that when the Acts were passed enabling those harbour boards to incur the large liabilities they now bear, warning voices were raised, but tin reply in every case was that the peopii of the locality naturally knew best, that the colony did not guarantee the loans, and that if any place could not pay the interest it would have to stand the consequences. And now here we are, face to face with the ditiicuity. Ic is a melancholy choice of evils. The Premier says that if we do not pass the Bill we shall have to meet the whole of the liabilities, while it is pretty plain that if we do pass the Bill we shall have to meet them all the same. Mr. Bruc?, member for Rangitikei, moved the rejection of the Bill, and in especial denounced the whole scheme of har-bour-making at New Plymouth. The amendment was carried, and the BW thrown out.