THE DOCK SCHEME.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4733, 15 August 1902, Page 3

THE DOCK SCHEME.

TUK KMt'OWKKiXG BILL FASSKS THK MOILSK. The liiial slaves of the W»Hin-U>!i ,Harbour Boan! Kinpowering Bill, which provides for the eon.d ruction of a (look a,ml for oilier public winks in Ibo port of Wellington, were reached ye-,terday in (he House of Representatives. Sir .1. G. Ward, in the absence of Mr V. ill ord. moved 'that, the amendment made in coiniiiiU.ee should be agreed in. .Mr Fisher, .speaking of Hie alteration made in tho seta . ■ t , seliednlo while the Bill was in committee, raid the words ■'dock or docks” were mere surplusage, and would he only a source ol confusion. These words could he used tor the purpose of creating mischief by those who were not in favour of the dock scheme. He was sorry the, words find not been struck out, altogether. ,Mr ’itogg whsberi to move tho recommittal of the Bill, so us to include in it a new clause which should give Hie people not merely of We! ling ton. but of the country districts —who were very much concerned in tho borrowing powers which this Bill intended to confer on the Harbour Hoard —the opportunity of saying whether they approved the scheme or not. The clause ho intended to propose provided that tho borrowing proposals contained in the Act should he subject to 11 poll of Hie ratepayers within the Harbour Board Act, .such poll to bo taken in tho same manner as any noil under Hie Local .Bodies Loan Act.

Mr Lauren.son seconded the amend- j ment for th(t recommittal of tho Bill, saying that a question of such paramount importance should not bo hur- j rirally considered. Thoso who were to bn affected by tho increased rate owing to the establishment of tho dock ought to have Hie opportunity of making their voices hoard on the. question. He never knew a, proposal for a more wiokod waste of public money than tho propositi for this dock. Sir J. CL Ward said hq had hoped that the Bill which had passed through committee would have been allowed to go through its final stages without comment. Tho whole matter had been discussed, and it would bo waste of timo to go into tho wholo question again. Tho Government, ’ Sir J. CL Ward explained, had supported tho Bill in every way, and in moving that tho word ‘‘floating” in tho lino “floating dock or .docks” should bo struck out bo had kept a promise ho had given to support tho Bill for a graving dock. Mr I’irani, speaking of tho feeling in tho country, said that tho Palmerston representative on the Harbour Board, Mr Wood, bad nob hekrd a single complaint in tho country against tho dock proposal. It was not intended to tax tho country districts for tho dock. Mr ’ Withoford supported tho dock, proposal. Mr John Hutcheson acknowledged the assistance which tho Government had given towards tho Bill. It would not have boon out of consonance' with what was appropriate if Wellington had askod tho Government for a contribution to the scheme from tho consolidated fund, because this was tho port which tho warships 'would have to defend; but on tho contrary, tho Wellington people did not ask tho Government for a contribution. They merely wanted authority to do this work themselves. Ho assured Mr Hogg that the country districts would not ho taxed for tho dock. Tho motion that tho amendment made in tho Bill in committee should ho agreed to was carried by 30 votes to 18.

Tho third readme was carried on tho voices, and tho Bill was passed.