The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 1907. THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL.

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

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 1907. THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL.

A month ago wo expressed the opinion that the unfortunate methods of tho promoters of the Gisborne Harbor Bill were likely to prove fatal to the scheme, and the news published in another column shows how accurate this view was. At that time we voiced the hope that tho House of Representatives might disregard the evident attempt at misrepresentation in regard to tho financial position, and, treating tho subject on its merits, decide that Gisborno should have a harbor, and in coming to that conclusion make such alterations to the Bill as were dictated by considerations of sound finance a,ml justice to all parties affected. This appears to he precisely tho course followed, but in “trimming up” an unworkable measure tho Parliamentary Committee has had to make amendments so numerous and so important that it does not feel justified in asking the House to consider tho amended Bill until tho members of the Harbor Board and the people of the district concerned have had an opportunity to express their opinion thereon. The Chairman of tho Committee states bluntly that that body had to “manufacture a new Bill for tho promoters.” This is caustic enough in all conscience, and it only remains to bo added that the Board might have been spared tho indignity of such a remark if it had taken some heed of the warnings that were, frequently given beforehand in these columns. AVo arc heartily in favor of a harbor being constructed for Gisborne, but it is our duty to the public to protest as vigorously as possible against any wild cat scheme that may bo brought forward to seek tho support of gullible voters. Whether the Bill as amended is one that can be conscientiously supported will bo known when the details are published, but that which was originally forwarded by the Board with tho accompanying statement was certainly entitled to rejection, and the Committee has merely acted as might have been expected under the circumstances.