PURCHASE OF THE WHARVES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

PURCHASE OF THE WHARVES.

Mr. H. R. Dunca^ 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 wharyes 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, howe\er, had no power to allow this to be donej so an endeavour had been made to obtain a State guaranteed loan. On the application being made it was found that there was uo power for the State to guarantee loans to harbour boards. Mr Duncan 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, snd it was felt that if the Board could cot purchase the wharves it might militate against the loan being earned. Mr. Geo. Macmahon, in ' supporting Mr Duncan's remarks, asked whether it would 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. Iti>culd require'a special Act of Parliament tp enable the Department to do it, and he doubted very much whether Fa) Ha-, meni would agree. There was an.

,:' ~V fi &i "Tv *'' '* •" "' "t;' *lf wdouls§d^fiaw- in the ~49V&od*:&>* some reason or other the guarantee aid ntit.*aVtfsA:t4 <boards. - The matter might-be put-right next session. If it .w,as^ the difficulty would be removed so far as the purchase of the wharves-by^the Nelson. Board was ctncerned.* Regarding endowments, .Mr. Massey said tf^jjgfi_.proportion,of lands had been/s^tasi&sft's ft national endow-, ment, and the lands mentioned by .Mr.' Macmahon might be included'therein/ '• . . ... "