THAMES HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17546, 11 August 1920, Page 7

THAMES HARBOUR.

IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS: POSITION OF MORRINSVILLE. OBJECTIONS TO RATING. [BX TEtEGJtAPH —OWN COBEESPON'DENT.J MORKINSVILLE. Tuesday. Representatives of the Thames Harbour Board Committee -waited on the Morrinsville Town Board and laid before them details of the scheme to make a deep water harbour at Thames. The delegates spoke for two and a half hours. They said they understood Morrinsville objected to the basis of " rating. Morrinsville was placed in the Thames Harbour district many years ago by the Seddon Government. It was proposed to make Morrmsville' ratio of rating three-twelfths instead of four-twelfths, as at first suggested, and to place the town on the same footing as Waihi, Paeroa, and Te Aroha. It was certain that a canal would be cut to Morrinsville from the Waihou River, and the town would thus be served from Thames Harbour. In answer to questions the delegates said the cost of the scheme had been increased from £160,000 to £275,000. It would be necessary to find £18,000 per annum as interest and sinking fund, as against £10,000. The, delegates agreed that Matamata and Matamata County should be in the rating area, and said a move should be made to include them. They stated that all they wanted was Parliament's authority to proceed. They would then start on a campaign before the poll. They hoped Morrinsville would allow the Bill to pass quietly through the House. Members of the Town Board agreed that the harbour scheme was a good one. They could not say immediately what the townspeople would think of the rating proposals At a subsequent special meeting of the Town Board it was resolved that in view of the lack of information the board had received, and in view of the alterations that must be made in the Bill, the board could not at present give the Bill its support. The board suggested that the Bill be deferred until the next session of Parliament. A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night considered the matter. It was pointed out during discussion that the railway freight for merchandise was 34s per ton from Auckland, as against 29s 6d per ton from Thame?. It was contended that the bulk of goods would come from Auckland, on account of the better service. The following resolution was forwarded to Sir William Hemes :—" The executive of the Chamber of Commerce endorses the opposition of the Town Board to the Bill, and considers the Bill, in its present form, inequitable, as the harbour would be little used by Morrinsville business men for the "import of goods." Mr. E. McGregor, representing the Morrineville Town Board and Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. G. Price, representing Matamata interests, have left for Wellington to give evidence before the Lac J 3ills Committee of the House of Representatives.