NOT THE TIME TO RAISE BIG LOAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19230, 18 November 1930, Page 4

NOT THE TIME TO RAISE BIG LOAN.

j FUTURE OF WANGANUI HARBOUR DISCUSSED. i Per Press* Association. WANGANUI, November 17. Matters of vital concern to Wanganui and the district, of which the city is the economic centre, were raised in a discussion at the Harbour Board meeting to-day. A debate on loan proposals opened up two avenues of future policy, namely should there continue with consequent heavy expenditure a policy of development to berth big overseas liners, or had the board reached a period when there should be an overhauling of its basic aims with regard to a deep sea harbour. There was nothing definite before the meeting, but the debate was precipitated by a statement by the deputy-chair-man (Mr P. Iligginbottom) advocating minor expenditure on the moles to bring them to a proper state of repair and the shelving of the major loan proposal of £200,000. The chairman (Mr J. T. Hogan) said that he saw no reason why the present policy of the board should be altered but, like every other member, he agreed that this was not the time to ask the ratepayers to sanction a big loan. Though no motion was carried the discussion showed that several members subscribed to Mr Higginbottom’s view,. He and Mr Donald Ross both thought that Wanganui should forget, at least for twenty years, the ambition to bring roadstead boats in to the wharves.