WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12889, 2 August 1913, Page 5

WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL

OBJECTIONS TO MEASURE. (By Telegraph.) (From our Parliamentary Representative.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. A petition from eleven ratepayers in the Pa tea county and the western portion of the Waitoiara- county, protesting against certain provisions of the Wangamti Harbour District and Empowering Bill, was presentee' to the House today .by Mr Petrce. The petitioners state that there is a great discrepancy in the opin:ons of eminent engineers as to the cost of the proposed harbour improvements, and that the result of the work is controversial, inasmuch as marine engineers of high standing claim that any increased depth that may be obtained will be only temporary. It is also asserted by the petitioners that the trade of the port does not warrant the expenditure of £250.000 on harbour works, and they further state that they are already better served by the port of Pat&a. They ask that the Government make further inquiries' into the scheme! before allowing tho Bill to proceed.

A petition from 21 ratepayers of the County of Waimarino bearing on the same subject was presented by Mr R. W. Smith. They state that they strongly object to their lands being included i in tho proposed rating area for the reason that it is extremely doubtful whether the scheme would prove a success; that the chief port for their district is Wellington, and that they have no effective moans of communicating with Wanganui. They ask that their lands be exempted from the operation of the Bill.