PURCHASE OF THE WHARVES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13419, 17 March 1914, Page 2

PURCHASE OF THE WHARVES.

Mr. H. R. Duncan chairman of the Harbour Board,, having congratulated the Prime Minister on his restoration to health, after a very arduous session, and given the Government credit for honesty of purpose, referred to the Board's proposal to purchase the wharves from the Railway Department. The price fixed was £107,000, and it was suggested that this should remain on loan, the Board to pay the interest and provide a sinking fund. The Government, however, had no power to allow this to be'done, so an endeavour had been made to obtain a State guaranteed loan.. On the application being made it was found that there was iio power for the > State to guarantee loans to harbour boards. Mr puncan said the Board desired to see if the difficulty could not be- got o\ er in any way. It was intended to ask the ratepayers to sanction a loan of £35,000 for harbour improvements, and it was felt that if the Board ceuld rot purchase the wharves it might jnilitaie aguinst the loan being carried. I Mr. Geo. Macmahon, in supporting Mr Duncan's remarks, asked whotru r it not be possible to secure further endowments for the Harbour Board from tho Crown lands in the Nelson district. Mr. Massey -said that personally he -was sorry the hitch had occurred. It was quite right that the Railway Department could not sell the wharves without receiving the money. It uiuld -require a special Act of Parliament to enable the Department to do it, mid lie doubted very much whether Parliament would agree. There was an undoubted flaw, in the Act, and for some reason or other the guarantee did not apply to harbour boards. The matter" might be put right next, session. If it was, the difficulty would be removed so far as the purchase of the wharves by tho Nelson Board was concerned. Regarding endowments, Mr. Massey said a huge proportion of lands had been sc taside as a national endowment, and the lands mentioned by Mr. Macmahon might be included therein. J