THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2172, 30 August 1907, Page 2

THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL

ITS PROSPECTS IN WELLINGTO N Mr. W. JD. Lysimi', who bus been in Wellington us representative of tiio local Harbor Hoard promoting tho passage of tlm Outer Harbor Bill, returned to Gisborne on Wednesday morning. A “Times” representative who sought to ascertain “how tho land lay” found Mr. Lysnar somewhat reticent. “Until the Local Bills Committee presents its report to the House,” lie said, “the Standing Orders prevent, one making public the nature of the evidence tendered. The Committee devoted two wliolo mornings, Wednesday and Thursday last, to the Bill, and the evidence was completed. The Committee, which comprises ten members, was to have met again on Wednesday and tho report may be presented any day now. Of course, 1 cannot go into details at this juncture, but I may say generally that the evidence as a whole adduced before the Committee was very satisfactory from the Harbor Board’s point of view, in regard to tho inclusion of Waiapu and Tolaga within tho special rating district. The Bill is being carefully revised by Mr. H. D. Bell, on behalf of the Board, certain technical alterations having been suggested.” “Are any of the vital clauses to be altered from tho original proposal?”

“No,” replied Mr. Lysnar, “there is no material alteration suggested, except to the interest of adopting the provisions under the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901, which are applicable to all local bodies, including Harbor Boards. This amendment fixes the rate of interest on the basis of 5 per cent, wheras we originally jiroposed 4j per cent. It does not necessarily follow that because that portion of tho Act is embodied, wo must pay 5 per cent. Certainly tho powers that Act confers are fuller and more satisfactory from the Board’s standpoint.” As to tho .merits of the scheme from an engineering standpoint, Mr. L--snar says no obstacle was encountered. The Committee went very carefully into the project, Mr. Marchant being examined at some length. The witnesses who gave evidence in support of the measure were Messrs. Ma reliant (the engineer), H. A. Barton (assistant secretary to the Harbor Board), W. G. Fraser (late manager at Gisborne for the Union S.S. Co.) and Mr Lysnar. The case for Waiapu and Tolaga was presented by Mosrs Williams (2), H. de Lantaur, Sinclair and R. J. Reynolds, C. E. Concerning the Local Bills Committeeo’s report, Mr. Lysnar did not' care to hazard a forecast, but naturally he presumed it would be favourable to the measure. “Whilst in Wellington,” he remarked, “I had the opportunity of going fully into the matter with tho Minister of Marine, the Hon. Mr. Millar. He has a thorough grip of the whole position, and I think we can rely upon getting sound aid from him. I don’t anticipate any direct or solid opposition from the Opposition party. I saw Messrs. Massey and Hemes on the subject and—whilst they have a free hand on the merits of the Bill—they will not be parties to anything in the nature of systematically blocking or stone-walling tho Bill.” Will lack of time, as has been hinted, prevent the passing of the measure this session ? “There is plenty of time to get the Bill through Parliament this session,” replied Mr. Lysnar. “After the Committee reports there are occnssions when the Bill can advanced a stage. It is too early to speak before I know the nature of that report; hut I am sanguine of its prospects. I don’t anticipate any trouble in the Upper House, as there are a number of prominent members on whom we can depend for substantial support.” Mr. Lysnar considers that Waiapu’s attitude could not be sustained. Speaking apart from the proceedings in Wellington, he expressed the personal opinion that, the Waiapu people had not sufficiently considered the matter. “They hare had far greater concessions from the Board in the past,” he remarked, “than they themselves have paid the Board in the way of rates and charges. If Waiapu should by any chance be excluded from the provisions of the Bill, it is not to be expected that the Harbor Board would allow their produce to go through the port on practically a free basis, as it has in Hie past. This means a big thing to the Waiapu people. I think this is an aspect of the question that they have overlooked or not properly appreciated.” Directly the Local Bills Committee reports, Mr. Lysnar will proceed to Wellington.