FOXTON’S HARBOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8129, 24 May 1912, Page 1

FOXTON’S HARBOUR

SORELY-PRESSED BOARD

ATTITUDE OP THE KAIL WAY DEPAETMENT. Foxton’s harbour, tho financial straits H tho Fnxtou Harbour Hom'd, and th»‘ Railway Department’s monopoly of the wharfage revenue, formed the subject o. » long interview which Messrs Robertson, ,M.l’., I’. lieimessy. J. A. Nash, E. S. Lancaster, H. K. Gardener. and VV. T. Wood, had with the Minister "f Railways, lion. A. M. Myers, yesterday. _ ‘Ton are the third Minister of hallways lieforo whom we have ccme tap in hand lagging for that of which the Railway Department has robbed us for thirly-four years,’’ einphalu-ally declared Mr lion newsy. That language might be strong, but it was no stronger than tho treatment which had been meted out to them by the department, which had driven its iron horse through tho harbour, crushing the Harbour Hoard constituted by the Act of 1879. They claimed the same treatment a.-> tho ports ot Wanganui. I’atea, and Waitara. By this Act they were cntitled to all the revenues accruing from tho river, but tho Railway Department squatted down on tho wharf and took it all. When' they approached the late Minister, the lion. Mr Millar, he told them to form a rating area, mid so provide tho 0,000 which the department required to bo bought out. Tho department had no right whatever to mortgage the revenue of the God-given heritage of poxton’.s port. An act ot God had placed tho river there, not tho department. "I am here,” he added, “as an advocate for the rights of my people, ami [ hope this Ministry will see its way to give it to thorn.’’ STARVED. Mr Nash said, to show tho way in which tho board was starved, that for eight or nine months tho members of tho boai-d were unable to receive the travelling allowances they were entitled to under the Act. Tho harbour dues belonged entirely to the Poston Harbour Hoard. The grant of .£250 they had received towards river improvements had been useful, and they wanted another grant for the same purpose. Unless this revenue question was placed, on a more satisfactory footing tho board might as well throw up the sponge. Mr Gardener said it was well-known that the department was making a profit of .£2OOO a year out of the port. They could not understand the department getting that revenue out of the port, and not spending something equivalent in improvements. I Mr Wood claimed that the revenues | belonged rightly to the port. The imoimt of shipping could easily be j doubled if, they could only do something to the river. Tho board had to keep a pilot, light tho river, and incur other liabilities, and yet nearly the whole of Hie revenue went to the department. Last year 4d,631 bales of flax wont out of tho river. If the present policy was continued the board would have to disband. and tho port revert to the Government. • INTERESTS CONFLICT. ’ The Hon. Mr Myers said it was quite clear that the local interests and those of tho Railway Department conflicted. The department was carrying on a large activity at Foxton, and whoever was Minister of Railways had to recognise his responsibilities to the department. In a mutter of this kind there was always a middle course, and he saw no reason why the board should be thwarted if the matter was approached in a reasonable manner. It had the option of buying the wharf for 1128,700. (The Minister read from a letter). Mr Nash : That’s the first wo heard of (hat amount.

Mr Honnossy; This is the first time that letter has seen the light. It was ad-iliv—.v-a tii .>lr Newman, M.P., wasn't it? The Bill before the House stated .£20,000, and the Minister accepted it. Mr Newman was very persistent in getting this offer in writing prior to the election, and before the second ballot this came to light. Air Myers: The amount is .628,700. It is quite clear the board is not desirous of purchasing at that figure; neither is the department anxious to sell, believing that it is to its own interest to retain control of the wharf. You are, however, desirous of improving the present position of the harbour, and I am informed that there is no necessity to spend a very largo amount; also, so for as the bar is concerned, it is a very bad one, and workable only for cool boats at spring tides. Owing to your limited income, I think you may approach the Government with a view to placing a sum on tho Estimates similar to what you obtained last year. I am sorry I can’t give you any definite answer. BEGINNING BE NOVO.

Mr Nash: Arc we to understand that tho amount fixed is £28,700, and that you are desirous of retaining the wharf? Hon. Mr Myers: We feel that it is necessary to retain tho wharf ourselves for the railway. Mr Nash: But the proposed Bill was for a rating area to raise .£20,000, agreed to by tho representatives of the three distriota and also, I think, by tho late Minister. The Bill was held over until this year. Now what is the position? ii°a- Mr Myers: The files disclose •£28,700. Mr Nash: Do you advise us to be quit af the Bill? ( Hon. Mr Myers: I don't think there’s any chance of euch a Bill passing because the department would oppose it. Mr Heonessy: X would answer that argument by saying that you have no legal standing, and the Act says that all moneys accruing must be spent on tho harbour. Tho Hallway Department has no right to the wharf except by squatting. Hon. Mr Myers: lam sorry to hear such extravagant language. I don’t think you aro warranted in doing so. i'ou have two interests belonging to the public, and we say that in the interests of- the people we should retain control over the wharf. On the other hand, I see no reason, if a little common-sense is used, why matters should not be adjusted. If possible, X will make a special visit to Foxton, but my time is limited. Mr Robertson; If we show you, over tho signature of the late .Minister, that the basis of purchase was £2i),OCO, will you believe it? Hon. Mr Myers: Certainly, if you show ’ me evidence of the fact, but I have nothing before me except the official document giving the figure as £28,700. | It was agreed that, if possible, Mr , Myers should meet the members of the i board at Foxton and go into the matter) further with them there. i