THE MANUKAU CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13488, 15 May 1907, Page 8

THE MANUKAU CANAL.

DISCUSSION BY' THE HARBOUR : ;-':'■• '■/ - : BOARD. ': f I PROPOSED. CONFERENCE WITH THE "''■ : ' %4 '"'''-■"■ x "PROMOTERS. " ; ' &£< The following motion was moved at yesterday's meeting i of '■: the" Auckland Harbour Board, by Mr. -, C. C. Dacre: —" That ■ the members of the Waitemata-Manukau canal syndicate be invited to meet the Board in committee arid explain their views." ' ' -;, ; Mr. W. J. Napier seconded the motion, and,suggested the addition, "and that Mr. J". E. Taylor, of Mangere, be invited -to be present.":' ■-•.,. " • ... .;i ■ : Mr. H. J. Bradney said ■he could not understand the advocacy of the construction of the canal, at present.' It did not seem that there: would be any need for"it; within the next- 50 years. .-;'; It would 'only serve the Waitara trade, as, on account of the Manukau bar, it would be no good for the Australian trade. - Moreover, the syndicate should approach the Board first. Referring to the suggestion •. that the Board should raise a loan for carrying out the work, he said that if such a proposal were. brought forward he would oppose it.- v > : .l Mr. A., J. Entricah said he' was surprised at Mr. Bradney's statement that the canal would serve nothing but the Waitara trade. " Mr. Bradney: That and the Westport coal trade. The canal project, like * the Calliope Dock, is ahead of its time. ' ; ; Mr. Entrican agreed that the motion was rather premature, 'and said that it would be time ; enough ■■ for. - the Board -to go into the matter .when ;; it •• assumed- control of the Manukau , Harbour, . \ It was ; quite right, however, that ; the Board' should; keep in touch with what was going on, arid it might obtain a report on the i scheme from its engineer. -■'•'.' '• ' " ' .'..'■*. Mr. J. B. Macfarlane : also did not think ■.the;:time.;h{id arrived for going into the mat-. ter.' He moved as an amendment, "That the engineer explain the plans to the Board ) and; report tliereon ; and that in the mean-, time the Board do not meet the canal Syh-; .dicate." \. :■"..'.-■ , '■;-,' ' ~ .'.'. ''''}-■> I>"4 ; Mr. J., K. Kneen: What - about the other, canal scheme? t , f, •' ■Mr.-.Entrican: Oh! take one at a time. "{ Mr. Macfarlane's amendment, which ■ was' seconded; by Mr. Entrican, was lost by : five" to--four. • ' , ..',\- . *'■ , Mr, Bradney moved 3, further amendment, arid-Mr. Kneen seconded, "That the question-be 'deferred for six months." ,s -' This amendment was, also lost, and Mr.: Dacre's motion, (with, the addition suggested .by Mr. l;Napiet)- was carried,. the conference ,to take -place! four weeks' after the next meet-' ing of the Board in .commitee. • >