THE PATENT SLIP COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 6 December 1907, Page 3

THE PATENT SLIP COMPANY.

AND THE UNION’S CO.’S CONTROL. HARBOR BOARD WANTS TO ACQUIRE 'THE PROPERTY. Press Association. , "WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. An emergency meeting of the Wellington Harbor Board was held this afternoon to decide what action the Board should take now that the Union Steamship Company lias acquired a controlling interest in the Patent Slip Company. The question was discussed in committee. The Board decided to instruct its solicitors to take steps to-acquire the property and assets of the Patent Slip Company either at a price mutually agreed upon or compulsorily. WILL THE UNION CO. HAVE A MONOPOLY ? THE “TIMES” FORESEES NO DIFFICULTY. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The acquisition of the Patent Slip by tho Union Co. is the topic of the hour. The N.Z. Times says it miglit be regretted that the Harbor Board lid not seize tlie opportunity which presented itself some months ago of acquiring the slip, as a complement to the dock, which, is now under construction, but any romorso on that head is quite dissipated by the great advantages Which the acquisition by tho Union Co. will bring to tlie port. Moreover, tho Harbor Board must be assumed by its action to have had little desire to purchase tho property. Its engineer, whose policy has been the means of placing Wellington in tho front rank imongst tlio ports of the southern hemisphere, recommended the acquisition of the slip, and for somo time die Board practically held and dallied with tlio option, so it is idle to -xpress regrets that a private company has now stepped in'and secured the slip. The same pafper asserts: ghat if reasonable facilities are given for establishing repairing sheds at tlie slip the result will undoubtedly be the removal of . tho company’s headquarters to Wellington. It adds: ‘‘"Wo don’t think for a moment that the Union Co. .will utilise the new property as a means of coercing t-lie small craft. In the first place, tlie patent slip in Evans Bay is not the only establishment where they can carry out their overhauls. At the present time a considerable number t'o to Nelson, Lyttelton, and Elswortli. Moreover, should there he any tendency on tho part of tlie Union Co. to unduly hamper the ■smaller shipping companies in respect to overhauling their steamers, it will lie the plain duty of tho Board to build another slip and operate it lor the benefit of all the smaller craft. Even should this course be necessary the cost, to the Board would probably be less than tlio acquisition of the present slip.” EVANS BAY RECLAMATION. CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS HARBOR BOARD. i Press Association. ( WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The scheme to reclaim a wide area of Evans Bay. to provide space for industrial expansion was approved by tho City Council to-night.