Foxton Wharf

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 February 1914, Page 2

Foxton Wharf

i HE CASE FOP Pl'llCHASLS'ti

Subjoined are seen some placed before the Hon. F. M. B. 1' isher, Minister for Marine (during' kis visit to Foxton this week) by a deputation which, waited on inni in regard to Foxton wharf. The first speaker was Mr P. J. Hennessy, chairman of Foxton Harbour Hoard, who began by saying that the main endeavour of tiie Board was to again get control of the harbour and revenue, in order to improve the waterway, and make it what nature intended it 10 be- a very important port—as ; the capital value of the district served by the river amounted to no less a sum than over seven million pounds. The Board had tried to keep the port open, but had iound it an almost hopeless job, on account of having practically no money to do it with. The annual net profits of the last five years from the wharfages, collected by the Bailway Department, averaged £1,40 ( J. If this money had been used for the purpose of improving the river, as it should have been, • they would have had a much improved port, and there would been 110 grounds for complaint, as' at present. Since the board had been in existence they had done all in their power with the small means at- their disposal to improve the port. Before the board was formed, the Marine Department used to pay a local firm <£150 per annum for sounding, the river and shifting the buoys, but the Board had saved this amount, purchasing a launch, and having .this work carried out by .their own officer. Also, when under the control of the Department, vessels could only work the port in daylight, but the Board were now

lighting the river when necessary, and the port could be worked day or night. He was asked by the Minister during the afternoon what lie would suggest the Minister's Department should do, una r-Air iieii'iiessy said they might approach the Railway Department and get some means of dredging the river to get rid of the banks that had formed in the channel, and which were a great source of trouble to navigation. -Since the strike only one eoal boat had visited the port, and the residents of the district were, as a consequence of having to get tiieir coal by rail, called upon to pay (is per ton more than if brought in by steamer. The shipping companies, while they coul.d get freights to other ports, were not anxious to work Fo.Mton, and in fact, 111 condition the river had been of late, they were not willing to trade here under any conditions. The small vote of £2 ; ~>0 which had been placed on the Estimates for the purpose of improving the river was totally inadequate, as the work required to be done was considerable.

A telling point was made by Air (jr. Jti. btiles, oi foxton, wiit-u lie said that m the regulations lor the purchase oi tlie whari, the Railway Department had overlooked one point, and tkat was the equity of tile wliolo tiling. ihe amount they set clown as tlie value oi the whari, was arrived at by capitalising tne proiits at 0 per cent., but had the Department expended the proiits made on the improvement oi the river, as they should have done, there would have been very little leit to capitalise 011. The district was suffering very considerably on account- oi the bad state oi the river irom time to time, and the cost oi various products was much increased through the port not being in proper condition. The Board should be in a position to make Foxton a very prosperous port, but could do nothing until it got the whariage revenue that tlie Railway Department now received. He took it that the duty oi any Government was to do the greatest good for the greatest number, and in tlie case of the Foxton Harbour Board the whole of tlie extensive district, with the exception of FeUding 1 , was quite willing- to be included 111 a rating area for the purchase of the wharf, and in this case he hoped the Government would look to the interests of the many us against the £®w Mr Barber said tlie Manawatu County Council was anxious for the board to get control of the whari, as at present tlie traffic on the tramway line was suffering through the port of Foxton not being kept in proper condition. Mr Robertson, M.l'., said that from what the Minister had seen he was sure he would recognise that the members of the board were very much in earnest in this matter, and also that they had been doing their best to keep the port in good order under very great difficulties. They felt they were up against the .Railway Department, who were not anxious to help the port, and they looked to the Minister to do his best to help them out of their difficulties, and he felt sure, from the way the Minister had grappled with the question, that he would do all lie could to assist them. In replying, the Minister for Marine uttered some home-truths that may serve as a warning in places other than Foxton: but speaking in regard to the present position he was helpfully sympathetic. He remarked that tlie present state of affairs at Foxton was due to lack of foresight of the people of Foxton years ago, and this fact should impress the present residents with the necessity of putting into public positions only men of foresight and sagacity As to the requests of the deputation he wanted to make -it quite clear that it was impossible for him to commit the Minister for Railways as to say anything for him. He intended visiting Foxton shortly and must speak for himself, and as Mr Robertson had said he had interests 111 the matter as Minister for Marine. There was do doubt that if the liver was not kept in proper condition it would mean a very serious loss to the residents of the district, as from enquiries he had made he was satisfied the export "trade alone from the report was very considerable. He had been informed that (SO,OOO bales of wool and hemp had passed through the local sheds last year. The Minister for Railways was in a very difficult position, but he believed that if he was Minister for Railways he would be able to come to terms with the board. Of course the Minister must look after the Railway Department, but if the port were neglected there was more than a possibility of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. if the Minister was unable to meet the board in the matter of the purchase of the wharf he should at least keep the port open. Mr Herries had a great difficulty. First he had an asset that was paying 5 per cent, on the capital of £28,700, and secondly .that in hnading away the asset, lie was afraid of reducing the railway revenue. He thought, however, that the vState could afford to hand over an asset such as this without any great loss to the whole community. It seemed hardly fair ihat the present generation should have to pay for the errors of their predecessors and somthing should certainly be done to assist them in this matter. In the event of a rating area being formed he did not think there would be the least necessity for calling up a rate and this being so the best way to get over Feihiing's objection would be to cut them out of the area altogether. Mr Nash said he did not agree with the Minister's suggestion that Feilding should be cut off. The vast majority of the people in the large area were agreeable to be rated and he did not think a small minority such as Feilding represented should be able to overrult; the rest of the area.