THE HARBOR NEGOTIATIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2714, 28 March 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOR NEGOTIATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — The Council debate at the meeting specially convened to consider proposals on the Harbor question, is not at all creditable to that body. Meeting after duo notice to deal with one of tho most important interests affecting the town, yet no member grappled with its merits or bearings, and the meeting was wasted iv vague reference to tbe magnitudo of the question, in carping at tho constitution of those acting as a Board, and in misrepresenting the revenue and tonnage as stated to the Premier.

The importance of this question cannot be overestimated, and it deserves to be fully examined, deliberately and intelligently, and the public naturally looked to Councillors to have it thoroughly analysed before so many of them should have expressed an adverse opinion- In reference to tho constitution of the Committee, its members are twelve of our leading business mon, and wore entitled from their individual positions to courteous reference, but since they were chosen at a meeting to which all the persons iv business were called, aud were nominal ed fora Harbor Board in a petition largely signed to tho Superintendent, they have that semi-official existence as to entitle them to discuss such a matter even with the Town Councillors.

The only point raised affecting the business seems to have been by a speaker who blundered in reference to the tonnage as represented by the Board to the Premier, and arguing on this misconstruction, even after correction, he endeavoured to show that the "wharfage was worth some thousands, whereas, however important the registered tonnage may be, as a source of dues for river improvements, the wharfage is only paid on the cargo a vessel carrys. An evening might have protitably been spent considering whether it would be to ihe public good to pass over river interests to a Harbor Board, or whether the Council itself should seek extended powers ; and if, after mature consideration, the Council concluded that it would bo advantageous to have a Board to deal with the large special harbor interests, then the Council might well have sought to devise tho most favorable terms by which it could aid such a Board without injustice to the ratepayers, in handing over the "Bridge and Wharves ; bearing in mind that this entanglement and burden on the development of the port is duo to the mistake of a previous Council.

If Councillors had entered on the subject in a broad liber.il spirit worthy of the occasion, good results might have boon hoped for ; but since 30 many expressod their decision on no logical grounds but soemliisjly fiom pique, it would be a. liopQlo^s task to seek to change their votes ; and as the river has beon hitherto kept by the Provincial Government as our Gas supplyis now kept by themselves, so apparently will our river improvements become a shelved question in the hands of the Town Coun il. These worthies have retired to think without any definite agreement as to when the question is to bo dealt with, and so the opportunity slips away, for the Government only undertake to prepare a bill if we agree amongst ours atilves before pressure of session business conies on. If therefore the opportunity now within our grasp of making Wancfaliui the prosperous porb of the most fertile dist.icfc in the colony is lost, it can never again recur with the same advantageous circumstanccs,and the loss must lie at the door of a majority of a council that however willing seemingly has not stamina to deal with the question. I am, &c, Vox Popult. March 27, 1870.