WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1865, 26 September 1913, Page 5

WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL.

MANIFESTO BY M.P.'S. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Wanganul, September 25. Statements aro published in the local press from Messrs. W. A.. Veitch, E. Newman, G.-V.'Pearce, M.P.'s, in'reBly to a manifesto by tho Wanganui bunty Council on t'he Wanganui Harbour Bill; Mr. Veitch. in the courso of a wellargued reply, defends the Harbour Board, his ■ fellow . M.P.'s, and himself from the council's charge, of dishonourable tactics in affecting a compromise on the Bill, and points out tliat the whole of the stubborn opposition to the Bill hinges on tlie possibility of a rate equalling only five shillings on every thousand poinds' worth of land —a rate which there is every chance will never bo struck. In answer to an allegation that he had got certain property owned by him at Mangamahu struck out of the rating area under tho Bill, Mr. Newman points out that ho sold tho property in question before tho Bill camo before •the House, and, as its produce is'all cent by rail to Wellington, it would, in any case, bo manifestly unfair to include it in the rating aroa. Mr. Poarce. meets an insinuation regarding hi 3 proporty at Waitotara. by Baying that Ic did not sign the petiion for the exclusion of it and adjacent lands from tho rating area, and is quite agreeable to have it included in the Patea Harbour rating area, to which it is much nearer than Wanganui. Mr. Pearce concludes b.v saying that t'he changing of members' minds on the Bill is largdy duo to tho action of tho chairman of the Wanganui County Council himself, and his somersault tactics. A couple of years ago ho condemned the harbour scheme in every direction, whereas now, in spito _ of his opposition, ho admits that it is a success-