CLUTHA RIVER EMPOWERING ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11301, 20 December 1898, Page 8

CLUTHA RIVER EMPOWERING ACT.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I have carefully perused the leading article in the Olago Daily Times of the 15th inst. relative to the Clutha River Empowering Act. From the tone of it, I infer that it has been written from information supplied rather than from personal knowledge, and I am sorry to say that the information is not altogether correct, in the first place, the board was under the impression that the matter wotild be dealt with as a public bill; but the Minister for Lands, who was in full sympathy with it, came to the conclusion that it would require to be introduced as a local bill. It was subsequent to this that Mr Thomson was asked to take charge of the bill, and on his declining to do so, Mr Pinkerton's assistance was sought and obtained. Bad Mr Allen, member for Bruce, been in tho House at thia time, Mr Pinkorton's assistance would not have been required; and the fact that Mr Allen, on his return, took the matter up and had the bill placed on tho Statute Book is in itself a sufficient guarantee that the measure is a good and desirable one.' The board has no desire to compete with private enterprise in the carrying trade on the Clutha River, and would gladly relinquish in favour of any private company having sufficient enterprise to take up the trade; but the board dpes not see its way, out of its limited revenue, to subsidise a boat put on by any private company, as Mr Thomson suggests it should do.—l am, etc., John M'Neil, Chairman Clutha River Board. Balclutha, December 17.