MANUKAU HARBOUR BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 8

MANUKAU HARBOUR BILL.

MR. NAPIER'S PROMISE.

REPUDIATED BY THE BOARD.

THE MOUNT ROSKILL ENDOWMENT.

A lengthy discussion took place at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday on the Harbour Control Bill, particularly in respcct to a promise stated to have been made by. Mr. W. J. Napier, a member of tho Board, who has actively promoted the Bill, to the Mount Roskill Road Board, that in the event of lots 22 and 23 of section 13 of the suburbs of Auckland being vested in the Board under tho Bill, it would cut up and road tho sections. In opening the discussion the chairman (the Hon. E. Mitcholson) said Mr. C. Bagley, chairman of tho Mount Roskill Road Board, had called upon him in respect to tho matter that morning, and was now in attendance. Mr. Bagley said there was in tho contro of tho Mount Roskill road district 336 acres of land, which the road board had been, endeavouring to got opened up. The Board was going to spend £3000 to put in approaches from the centre of tho district and the Onehunga and Avondalo ends, and it was understood tho Board would do what the Lands Department had promised to do and road it, and he asked that tho Board should give a guarantee to this offoct. Tho Chairman said ho might as well state at onco that the Board would road the land whenever there was a prospect of tho sections being taken up, but ho did not think it would undertake to road the sections boforo they could be leased. Mr. Bagley: Then I understand that you tot-ally ignore this letter from Mr. Napier? I ask you whether you ignoro it or accept it. Members: Rend tho letter. A copy of tho letter was read by tho secretary as follows:—"In reference to this Bill I agree on behalf of the Auckland Harbour Board that in the event of lots 22 and 23 of section 13 of the suburbs of Auckland being vested in the Board, the Board will carry out tho arrangement made by the Lands Department, to cut up and lease the said sections in lots of ten acres, more or less, and to form and complete tho necessary roads for such subdivision." Several Members: Ho had no authority to do that. Mr. Bagley also read a telegram in support of his contention. He stated that the Board's roads would bo completed next year. He stated that tho Harbour Board would make 150 per cent, on its money. Mr. A. J. Entrican said ho would strongly oppose the Board roading this land before there was a prospect of leasing it. Tho. experience of the City Council was that the best sections in Ponsonby Road, with 120 ft depth, would only return 2£ per cent on the Glasgow lease system, and it was somo time before even that could be got. Mr. Bagley: The comparison is not a fair one. Mr. Entrican said Mr. Bagloy could rest assured that whenever tho Board could get five per cent, on tho Glasgow lease, it would put in roads. After Mr. Bagley had retired, Mr. Gunson said he thought it should be made clear that the Board could not confirm tho promise mado by Mr. Napier. The chairman said Mr. Napier had no authority to commit tho Board to any expenditure. Mr. Kneen: You require a block and tackle to keep Mr. Napier to his instructions. Mr. Gunson moved that the Board repudiate this promise, and state its intention of taking what steps seemed best to it. Mr. Keys said the Board .'should not. go out of its way to give Mr. Napier a slap. Mr. Gunson: I am sorry ho is not here. Mr. Entrican did not think any consuro on Mr. Napier was implied at all. Mr. Gunson said ho had discovered a discrepancy between Mr. Napier's report and the Bill, in respect to Railway Wharf, Onehunga. It was understood that the Board was to pay the value of tho wharf for removal, whereas in tho Bill it was provided that in fixing the price the arbitrators should take into consideration the present value of the wharf. He did not think the present value was the eamo as the valuo for removal.

On the motion of Mr. Entrican, seconded by Mr. Hutchison, the following resolution was then carried"That while the Board cannot entirely endorse tho arrangement promised by Mr. Napier, viz., that the Board carry out the arrangement as promised by the Lands Department (' that tho block will be cut up and roaded on tho completion of tho Ridge Road'), the Board is prepared on completion of the Ridge Road to offer for lease on tho Glasgow system tho frontages to such road, and will road tho balance of tho block as soon as the demand for tho sections warrants the Board in spending tho neoessary money, and that tho Board cannot endorso any variation in the constitution of tho Board as passed by the Board on October 12, 1909, with tho addition of one member for Manukau County." It was resolved that copies of the resolution bo sent to the Prime . Minister, Messrs. Glover and Lang, M.P.'s, and Napier. TELEGRAM TO MR. LANG. On leaving the mooting Mr. Bagley despatched tho following wire to tho member for Manukau (Mr. Lang): —" Waited on Harbour Board to-day. They will not confirm Napier's letter, nor will they agree to take the position tho Minister takes up if the Bill is passed. See Mr. Bollard." When asked if this meant opposition to i the Bill, Mr. Bagley said he would let the public draw its own inference.