THE HARBOR BOARD BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2177, 5 September 1907, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD BILL

ADVERSE REPORT FROM TIIS COMMITTEE. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. THE BILL REFERRED BACK. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, September 4. Tlio promoters of the Gisborne Harbor Board Bill have apparently mado lather a muddle of their measure judging from what transpired in the House to-day, and the forecaste it piob'abilities given by Mr. Lysnar was very wide of the mark. In the House this afternoon the Local Bills Committee reported on the Bill. It was stated that they had taken evidence at great length and were of opinion that owing to the radical alterations proposed to bo made by the promoter; in the present Bill and also on the ground that tlio engineers to whom the proposed scheme of harbor construction had been submitted had > of yet reported thereon, the Bill in the opinion of the committee should not be proceeded with this year. The committee was further of opinion that in all future Harbor Bills promoted by the Harbor Boards which have rating powers, a clause should bo inserted giving such Boards power to levy differential rates on goods coming from any district outside of the rating area for shipment at such port. Mr. Graham, Chairman of the Local Bills Committee, moved that the report bo laid on the table. The Hon. Mr. Carroll moved as an amendment that the report bo referred back to the Local Bills Committee. Pie said the Bill was one of great importance to tlio district and ho would not like to see the Bill stopped. He wished the committee to reconsider their report. He had received communications from the district regarding the matter. The people wore very anxious that whatever the merits might be they should be decided. Ho knew that the alterations referred to in the report of the committee wero very extensive, but they were largely a question of drafting. With the prospects there wero of a long session there would, he thought, be ample time for the committee to have all the proposed amendments submitted and the Bill considered by the House. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser seconded the amendment. Mr. Graham said that he would not make any reference to the amendment ; that was a matter for the consideration of the House. In reference to the Bill, however, ho might say that there was no division in the committee in regard. to the Bill. The committee had given every facility to everyone concerned to, at the greatest length possible—state what they had to say. Two whole days had been taken up with evidence both for and against the Bill. No petitions in favor of it had been received from any quarter, but portions of the district lying farthest away from the harbor had made it very clear that they would receive littlo, if any, benefit from the proposed expenditure on the new harbor. There were some portions of the Waipu district that wero eighty miles away. During the last 23 years the people there had been paying harbor rates on account of the present works but had received no benefit whatever. There were eight or nine natural harbors along the coast of Waipu County and the north of it and from these ports the people of the district did nearly all their work. They had to pay their share of the interest on the old loan of £20(L000 and they were willing to continue'to pay it but they desired to be excluded from the proposed new loan of £350,000 which they said would be of no interest to them whatever. He pointed out also that there had been petitions against the Bill both from the country and the people of Waipu County and Tolaga Bay. Furthermore, the proposals for the new harbor had not yet received the confirmation of an eminent firm of engineers to whom it had been referred for a complete report and the Tolaga Bay people ashed that the Bill should remain until such a time as a report confirmatory, or otherwise, of the benefits likely to be received from the scheme had been received from the engineers. No doubt the people supporting the Gisborne Harbor Board were very anxious for this Bill to proceed. One gentleman, in particular, he noticed, had given three-quar-ters of a column to a local paper about wliat he alleged -the committee were doing, and had been giving away things he had no business to give away. Ho had also stated that while he was in Wellington lie had had the opportunity of going fully into the matter with the Minister for Marine, who had a thorough grasp of the whole question, and that the promoters of the Bill could rely on .support from him. (Hon. members : “ Oh, oh!” Proceeding Mr. Graham said it had been shown that the Bill as it stood was not a very good one. The origi-'M Bill consisted of thirty clauses, and lie showed that in order to make it at all presentable it had had to be considerably cut about and shortened. Such a Bill had to he deposited for three weeks for public inspection and also advertised. As the Bill had been altered so much it was a question whether it should not be advertised again. There had been an amendment to nearly every clause, some new clauses were to be added, and four or five clauses struck out. Altogether it amounted to this, that the Local Bills Committee had had to manufacture a new Bill for the promoters, and it might- be that in so doing the committee was altering the scope of the Bill. If the House referred it back that was, of course, their business, but lie would again state that the committee were unanimous after having devoted three days to the Bill that the promoters should have an opportunity of revising their handiwork, and the public should have an opportunity of saying whether they agreed or disagreed with it. As for the people who were exempt from rates, the committee’s suggestion that a clause be nut in the Hnrbor Board Bill so that, they would have to pay for services rendered would give sufficient protection to hoards. Tho amendment- to which no objection was taken was agreed to, and the Bill referred back to the committee.

LOCAL ACTION. The first intimation received locally as to the fate of the Rill was conveyed in the following telegram from Mr. H. D. Bell to Mr. W. D. Lvsnar:—“Gisborne Harbor Bill. —Committee have resolved to recommend House that Bill ho postponed till next year. Will see Carroll on the subject.” In reply Mr. Lyshar wired:—“See Carroll soon as’ you can, and trust you and ho can do something stopping xiostponement, which is very undesirable. Have wired Carroll.” To the Hon. Carroll Mr. Lysnar telegraphed:—“Bell wires me Committee resolved to recommend House that Bill he postponed till next year. Cannot understand this. Neither side asked for it. Surely it is plain duty of Committee to deal with matter on merits. Hope you will take up strong position in House, and either insist on Committee dealing with Bill on its merits or for House to proceed with Bill. Whole desire is to have matter dealt with and s ive year’s delay. Board’s figures show that the direct saving to Board and tho people using this port for vear would he equivalent to £22,0.35 hv having the outer harbor. Surelv tlie House can he induced to dee 1 with the matter if the Committee w" 1 not. Wire we what vou think best course to adopt in order to get Bill dealt with this session.” Messrs. Harris and Matthewson ilso telegraphed to the Hon. Mr. Carroll urging that the matter be proceeded with. The Hon. Mr. Carroll readily complied with the requests made, and wired during tho afternoon that he was advocating the early passage of the Bill, and moving that the report he referred hack to tho Local Bills Committee for reconsideration. He evidently tested the feeling of the House, with a satisfactory result, as a la-ter message to Mr. Lysnar announced :—“Bill referred back to Committee for reconsideration,”

M -. Lysnar last evening despatched the following reply:—“very n'-.-.-sed to receive your wire. _ It , i ridiculous recommendation. Biil does not autlioriso construction of any particular scheme only to borrow for an outer harbor. Before tho harbor can lie commenced the consent of the Governor-m-Councii must bo obtained, under section 4 or tho Harbor Amendment Act, lead. Also a poll of ratepayers must bo taken.” i