FOXTON HARBOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19998, 15 November 1927, Page 6

FOXTON HARBOUR

PURCHASE OF STEAMER PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN. [ Per Press Association. 1 PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 14. That commercial trading in shipping* was not the function of a harbour board and that an amendment would have to be made to the Harbours Act before any such undertaking could bo decided upon, was made clear to the Foxton Harbour Board, at its meeting at Palmerston North by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. D. Stewart), when replying to the board regarding a proposal to borrow for the purchase of a steamer. Some time ago the board suggested that it might borrow £6OOO for this purpose, but the Minister stated that Cabinet, after looking into the whole question both from the position of borrowing authority and also that of the Marine Department as to harbour board administration, had refused to give its support to the proposals. “While generally admitting that the trade of tha port has much declined,” said the Minister, “it is not clear that it is altogether due to the causes given, as undoubtedly land transport has been so much improved and extended in recent, years that it must affect ports situated as Foxton is, and the fact that it is more reliable and regular is probably a factor operating against competing shipping companies.” The Minister pointed out that the present annual loan charges on the board’s present indebtedness was £687 10s, and the new loan, if raised, would add a further amount of £2lO. In view of the whole circumstances the Government was unable to support the proposal to grant borrowing authority for £6OOO for the purpose mentioned. The board decided to bring a remit in support of subsidising shipping fot small ports before the next harboui boards’ conference.