FOXTON HARBOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2820, 11 July 1916, Page 6

FOXTON HARBOUR

. COMMISSION'S REPORT PURCHASE OF WHARF APPROVED OTHER PROJECTS DISCOURAGED. The report of tho Commissioji set up to inquire into and report as to tho advisability of the purchase of tho Foxton Railway Wharf by the Foxton Harbour Board, tho connection of the Sandon tramway with the Main Trunk Railway lino, and tho formation of a new railway line connecting Foxton with the existing lines at Levin or other suitable point, was presented to the House of Representatives by the Hon. W. H. Herries last night. Thie members of tho Commission were: Sir Robert Stout (chairman), Mr. W. M. Hannay (of Wellington), and Mr. Cyrus Williams (of Lytteliton). Questions for Determination. The following wero the questions submitted to the Commission:— (1) Whether the Foxton Harbour •Board should be permitted to purchase the Railway. Wharf at Foxton, and, if so, on what basis the purchase money should,be ascertained, and what should bo tho'terms and conditions of purchase. (2) Whether the Sandon tramway should be purchased by the Government and be connected with the Mailt Trunk Railway at Marton or Greatford as part of the railway system of the Dominion. (3) Whether, in the alternative, the county council having control of the Sandon tramway should be permitted to connect that tramway with the Main Trunk Railway at Marton or Greatford.

(4) Whether it is desirable that a new line of railway slrould be constructed by tho Government from Levin or some other suitablo point on the Main Trunk Railway to Foxton.

(5) Whether a new lino nf railway should bo constructed by the Government from Marton to Levin.

The Wharf and the Harbour. Replying to question No. 1, the Commission assumes that it is the declared policy of tho State that the harbour at Foxton should be kept open and under local control. "The evidonce loads us -to believe." the report states, "that it is doubtful if tho harbour can continue to be profitably utilised if some steps be not taken to assist the river in keoping a depth sufficient for small crafts. The expert engineers differ as to whether dredging would be sufficient. We are inclined to think, in addition to dredging, some works would have to be erected to control and direct tho waters of tho river." The Commission estimated, the probable cost of such works at J!50,000. It is computed that the gross revenue from tho wharf'is .£3500, but that after labour and other -expenses are paid, this is far more than sufficient to meet the charges for interest, and sinking fund for the cost of construction of tho wharf, the present value of which was estimated at ,£3700. Tho recommendation was that the board should have the right to purchase the.wharf for ,£SOOO, tho term "wharf" to the actual wharf structures, the area of land leased to Levin and Co., a strip of land sft. wide behind the actual structures of the wharf, and a right-of-way 33ft. wide across the ■railway yard. Conditions are submitted that the right of purchase shall not arise until after tho harbour shall have constituted a harbour 'board railway district sufficient to provide a Tevenne of ,£4OOO a year, and that pending the constitution of the rating area the Railway .Department keep account of the net profits from the wharf, which amount shall be paid over io the Harbour Board on the completion qf' the purchaso.

The Tramway. Question 2 is answered as follows:— "We are of opinion that, considering the many demands on the Government for railway services, it is not desirable that this tramway should be purchased by tho Government." , (3) The Commission finds that tho tramway is not suitable'for any exchange of traffic between tho Tail way. and the tramway, such as would be involved in the running of railway trucks over the 'tram line.: Close connection with the railway is therefore considered to be possible, and the Commission recommends that, the local bodies be allowed to carry tho tramway to a dead end adjacent to the railway at Great-, ford, so that the transfer of goods would bo easy. A condition is suggested -that the tramway, to be controlled by the local bodies as now. should bo allowed to carry only goods for use iri the'Manawatu or Rangitikei counties, or goods produced in' these counties. The. report adds: "We feel bound, however, to state that considering the advances being made in motor carriage it may be a question whether such a connection would bo a payable undertaking or commercially of much value to the counties. Indeed, weincline to the opinion that a tramway would be unable to comucto' vrith tho present railway carriage." The Deviation, 4 and 5. The answer to'these questions is as follows:—"The time is not opportune for discussing the construction of a main line either between Levin and Foxton or between and, Marton. Wo arc of opinion the traffic does not demand such a connection, and it would be at present, aud perhaps for many years to come, a waste of resources of tho Dominion to. undertake it. If it is hereafter of importance to shorten■ the lino between Wellington and Auckland, then there aro other districts in which tho shortening might be carried out to more advantage, and which would, at the samp time, open up fresh country:" When the report was reported in the House it was discussed by members roprosenting districts interested. Not Satisfactory,

Mr._W. 'H. Field said that the report dealt Vith three very large questions affecting a section of his electorate. Ho had been iu favour ot the question of the purchase of the wharf ouly being referred to tho Commission,' and - that others should'be hold over until the end of the war. The recommendation regarding tho Sandon tramway was not satisfactory, and it- would lead to a great deal of disappointment in the districts affected. He was sorry also that the Commission had decided' that the proposed deviation of the Main Trunk line ought not to bo considered foe some time yet. This would have provided an easier route to Palmerston— 15 miles shorter in distance. i\"ow that, this proposal was turned down, he hoped that a private company might make the . railway and run it. Tho price specified at which tho 'Harbour Board should purchase tho wharf was iSOOO, tho samo price as the board had offered. Tlic net profit of the wharf was. from ;£I7OO 'to and if this were so tho special rating area should ho unnecessary. . All that was necessary to keep tlio river clear was a dredge, and tho purchase of a suitable dredge could be financed .without any, rating of consequence. Tho ovidonco given before the Commission was to the effect that all that was necessary to keep tho river clear was a dredge. They had export ovidenco to this effect. Ho contended that thero was no justification for a rating area producing.£lo(lo a year. He expressed satisfaction at tho fact that tho Commission was of opinion that, the surplus revenuo should bo given to the Harbour Board. The trado of the port, of late years had been greatly retarded owing to the Railway Hopartnient not keeping tho river in order. At one time, when the river received proper attention, at least half a dozen steamers used tho port, hut this number had been reduced to two. A rating area capable of producing .24000 was far more than was necessary.

Bating Area Rot Needed. Mr. E. Newman "expressed regret that tlfp Commission had mado the purchase of tho wharf by tho Harbour Board subject to a condition that a rating area capablu of producing ,£'looo n yearshould be established. It might be possible to secure a rateable area producing JC2OOO a year, but .EiOOO a year was too great an amount. In regard to tho Sainton tramway and tho question of connecting it with the main railway line, he said that the effect of the report was that settlers would have to send their produce round to Wellington

by tho old route. The Commission, in offect, found that, tho interests of the Railway Department was superior to thoso of tho settlers. Tho policy of the Government should bo to enable tho settlers to get their produce to tho market with the least possible delay, and tho least expense, rather, than to enhance tho profits of the. Railway Department. Ho regarded the report of the Commission as puorilo ii) the extreme. Report Criticised. Mr. D. H. Guthrie said there was rot one person in the Foxton district who thought that the report of the Comrnls. sion was a justifiable one. Whilst it was agreed that .£SOOO would be a fair price for the wharf, the laying down of the condition in' regard to a rating area was unreasonable. This condition nulli. fled the reasonableness of the report in regard to th° valne placed on the wharf. In the past years they had had a fleet of small steamers running to Foxton, bnt owing to tho absence of attention to the river, tho number of boats running had been reduced to two. It would b» a fair thing, seeing that the Railway Department had had o .proßt from tbo wharf for so many years, for the Department to give the resident* some assistance tn tho future'. He thought it wonld be almost impossible to raise -£4000 a year from tho rating area. In regard to endowments. He thoushfc the foxton JTarlwur Board tas entitled to some consideration. He agreed with the report of the Commissloni is Tegarti to the qnestion of the proposed deviation of the Main Trunk line by the construction of r line from Levin to Greatford. Tf such a line was constructed it would not opori much new country, and would save only fourteen miles in the distance between, Wellington and Auckland. If such A line .vere made it would mean that the Sandon tramway, which was useful as a tramway, but useless as part of tho railway system, would have to be pulled up. It would also be neoeseary to build two expensive bridges over the Rangitikei and Manawatu Rivers. It would not be worth doing all this for the saks of saving fourteen miles. If a .deviation was to bo made he could name <in alternative route, which would open up good country that at present was not wit/iin forty miles -of a railway. In regard to the- extension of the Sandon tramway, he thought that if the Manawatu County Council got across the Rangitikei Rjvor and into tho R-angitikei County.they would experience considerable opposition from the settlers, who were connected by good roads with tho railway system. Ho was satisfied with the Commission's report, except in regard to the condition imposed in regard to tho rating area for tho maintenance of the Foxton- wharf.

Mr. D. Buick said he had always lookedupon the Foxton wharfand the rivor as the birthright of the settlers. He thought that all the revenue derived from tho port should'be spent on the river.. Ho thought that the condition in regard to a rating area would make it impossible for the Harbour Board to purchase the whnrf. As to the question of tho railway deviation, Eo was astonished that 6uch a. proposal had. been' referred- to the Commission. As already stated, it would eave only 14 miles, and the country that it would open up was not nearly 60 good as that which could be opened up by other routes. The only reason tl>at lie could conceive for bringing this matter up was that it would create ill-feeling between the people who desired, the deviation and those who were asking for' the purchaso of the Foxton wharf. This was a feeling which would not bo' for gotten when the question of arranging a rating .area nan taken in hand. At for the' wharf, it was not worth .£SOOO, but tho Harbour was willing to give tl*at r>um for it, He that it would not b& necessary to raise more than £2000 a year.

Minister Replies. Tho Hon. W. H. Herries, In replying, 6aid that: the three subjects referred-to the Commission had been before the House for many years. He had hoped that, by having the matters-reported upon by A Commission composed of men of the highest ability, finality would have been secured. Ho was therefore surprised to hear from tho preceding speakers that there was a likelihood of the controversy being resurrected, and of it being advocated that tho proposed .£4OOO rating area should bo reduced to i!'2floo. Mr. Herries said lie did not say that he was satisfied with tho report of the Commission, but he was going to tako it as a finality. He thought that, the value placed on tho wharf ivas miserably 6mall. Tho Commission had not adopted the principle of capitalising the income, but ha/1 arbitrarily fixed the amount at iCotlflO. This was the. value of tho structure, but nothing-. was allowed for goodwill. It had been complained'that the Department had not spent the surplus from the wharf revenue on the river, but it was not the custom to fpend whqrf revenue on harbours. The Foxton Harbour Board m defunct for many years, and tho Railway Department managed the wharf. Now tho board had been resurrected, but it had no revenue. Tho Department would now havo to keep a special account in connection with tho wharf, and ho hoped that if tho board was going to purchasa Hie wharf it would be done within a definite and reasonable time. If the Department was deprived of the revenue from the wharf, it would havo to charge the future owners of the wharf with the cost of haulage and labour, as was done in tho case of other Harbour Boards. Ju regard to tho Sandon tramway, Mr. .Herries said that ho thought the Commission had come to a wise decision, ir the tramway were extended to Grcatford or Marton, the Commission reasonably ndvised that whilst it should not be con.' ncctfil with the railway system, it should be. allowed to run into the railway yard. This would reduce tho labour involved in tho transfer of goods to a mcS-« .bagatelle. As to the proposed LevinMarton railway, he did not suppose that anyone expected that the Commission would recommend such' an expenditure during the war. If, however, they woro going to "have, a large port at Foxton, the people of Levin and Marlon naturally would desire to bo connected with it, As to the rating' area, the Foxton peoplo represented that thoy wanted a larga port... If they had a large port, a considerable expenditure would be necessary. It. for instance, had been said that it would be necessary to havo training walls at tho mouth of tho harbour, and -if, Foxton was to have a good harbour it was absurd to say that a revenue of JMOOO a year was too much. Ho hopwl that this report would be accepted as a finality. ' . Dr. Newman: It won't bo." Mr. Herries: When will we; have finality? Dr. Newman: Never! Mr. Herries said that he had secured finality in regard to the Hutt'Road. Mr'. Wilford: For this session, but not., for this Parliament. ''' Mr. Herries said that he 'hoped that in the present oase the report of the Commission' would be accepted as final.