MANUKAU HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 5

MANUKAU HARBOUR.

AUCKLAND BOARD'S BILL.

GOVERNMENT OBJECTION.

REFUSAL TO CEDE THE WHARF. Referring, at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board in committee yesterday, to the Bill now before- the House, to vest the control of Mamikau Harbour in (he Board, the chairman (the Hon. E. Mitchelaon) stated that when Mr. Kidd, the member in charge of the Bill, was in Auckland on Monday last, he (Mr. Kidd) interviewed him on the subject. Mr. Kidd informed him that ho had got the matter adjourned in order that lie might come to Auckland and get further information on the subject. It appeared that the Government were not disposed to hand over the endowments which they held, and particularly the wharf over which the Railway Departmont had control. This being the case, Mi-. Kidd asked for a definite pronouncement on the subject. He (the speaker) had accordingly suit Mr. Kidd the following letter: —

I understand from you that the Minister for Railways will not consent to the transfer of reserves (including the wharf at. Onohunga) now held by tho Railway Department, as proposed in tho Manukau Harbour Control Bill, tho principal objection you fetato being that tho Department requires the wharf for the purpose of working its own business, as is done in other ports where the reserves aro vested in the Crown. The question is important, affecting, as it does the revenue of the port, without which tho working of the harbour, together with the heavy cost of improvements, would mean a very largo expenditure out of tho funds of the Board, without any compensating return in the shape of wharfages, etc. The expenditure for many years would be considerable, and the- Board will probably be inclined to reconsider its position beforo entering into a kirgo expenditure, if wharfages are to be barred. Will you, therefore, kindly ascertain from tho Minister: — (1) Will the wharf be transferred to the Board, conditional upon reasonable compensation being paid? Or, (2) in tho ©vent of the Minister refusing to transfer on the above condition, will ho agree to the Board's taking over the control of the wharf and making all necessary repairs and extensions, the Board levying and collecting all wharfages, and the Railway Department having the use of the wharf as now for working its business, without making any charges as to wharfages, etc., similar to what is Being done on the railway wharves at Auckland and Wellington? If you will kindly let me have a wire for Friday's meeting of the Board in committee, statins? how the Minister will meet us in connection with the wharf and its working, the matter wili bo considered, and a decision come to as to whether to go on with the Bill or not. With the large expenditure necessary in connection with the development and improvement of the harbour, involving as it will many thousands of pounds, the Board would not, in my opinion, be wise to take over the control of the harbour if the principal source of revenue is to be cut away from it. The Chairman said that so far he had received any reply. He thought the letter embodied tho views of members. Mr. J. K. Kneen: The Minister told me during Fleet Week that the Railway Deparment would not give over the wharf. Several members observed that in that case it would be better to drop the Bill. The action of the chairman was endorsed.