SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4465, 11 September 1922, Page 1

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

RIVERS AND HARBOUR. OPPOSITION IN EVIDENCE. A lengthy and interesting discussion took place at the last Thames Harbour Board meeting as the outcome of the reading, of a minute which stated that the chairman had called a meeting of the Local Committee in connection with the Waihou River question. This was commented on by the Te Aroha representative. Mr. Coulter said, in connection witn the rivers, question: I would like to know if any member of this Board has considered the proposed legislation in connection with the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers.

The chairman (Mr C. W. Harris) said the Board had considered it. very necessary,, owing to the fact that the river was one of the main feeders of the harbour scheme, to assist the up-river people, thinking, also, that in return the up-river people might more favourably consider the harbour scheme. They were wondering, he said, if it would not, be possible for them all to co-operate and devise some scheme that would be of benefit to the whole district, and particularly to the up-river people. If they (the up river people) were contributing bodies, then it was up to the Board to see that something was done, quid pro quo. So far no action had been taken.

Mr Donaldson said that, if it was the intention of the Government to bring down legislation, it would be wise for the Board to consider what attitude it would take towards another body controlling the Waiihou' River. He did not think there should be two bodies, one controlling the harbour and another controlling the rivers. It would produce endless trouble. The dhairman: This Board is out to do what is right and just to this district, although the members do not get credit, for doing so. I am sure it is the aim of the Board to do the best for the whole district. Mr Coulter: If the navigation of the Waihou River must be a vital part of the Harbour Board area scheme this Board must be interested, and the legislation in connection with the rivers will no duobt affect the Harbour Board to a considerable extent. It would clear the opposition if this could be dealt with whep the Amending Bill is before the House. Unfortunately this Amending Bill wsuld be dealt with when they wer-i quite in the dark .as to what would be done in regard to the rivers. The Chairman : We are all wondering if we could do anything as a board in the interests of the district as a whole, as well as the interests of this Board. If this Board can do anything to help Te Aroha we should try apd work together. Mr Coulter said he thought the position had become almost hopeless, or would do so in a week or t.wo.. If the Amending Bill was proceeded witn it would be too late to include* the rivers in any way as a part of the scheme. It would become a matter for separate legislation. You may, he -aid, have carried the day in regard to the harbour, but the up-country districts will feel that .their requirements have not been considered, and the position so far as they are concerned will not be satisfactory. The position so far as making them joint, parties would become hopeless. If, he said, the Government’s mind could be made kno.wn in regard to the Waihou River it would help the up-coun-try people as regards their attitude. We have no idea ,what the Government’s proposals are for financing the rivers improvement scheme. The Chairman: Dp you think the Government’s attitude in regard to the rivers scheme should influence you in connection with the harbour scheme 1 Mr Coulter: It is not the influence. It is a question of not being in a position to pay. That was what would affect even those who might favour the scheme. They would say: It is impossible for us to do anything to keep the scheme.

The Chairman: Can you make no suggestion ?

Mr Coulter: My suggestion is that this Amending. Bill should, stand over until the Government’s mind is known in regard to tihe rivers. The Chairman : You can hardly expect the Harbour Board to let its own Bill stand over. Mr Miller: Will not the position Mr Coulter suggests come to this : If the Thames Harbour Board Bill goes through, the up-'country people will be conimitted to the Harbour, and they will say: We are committed to the Thames Harbour and we will ask the Harbour Board to fight for us. Mr Donaldson said the Government had spent £300,000 in works on the river, £150,000 more than the Act had provided for, and now, if they stopped the work, they would damage the surrounding lands and the farmers would have action against the Government. The Government was, therefore, compelled to go on, and it would lead to a tax of 10s an acre. A. Member : And the farmers would have to go off the land. Mr Donaldson said the Government was now trying to find out the maximum it could extract from the settlers, the mining companies, and the Waihi Borough. The Harbour Board had. unfortunately, been named the Thames- Harbour Board ; consequently it was said that the Thames people wanted to push on the scheme for their own benefit and to the detriment of the up country people. The chairman said that was why he had called the local committee together. They wanted to assist the whole harbour district, and wanted the hearty co-operation of the upcountry people.

Mr Cooper said the Harbour Board had once tried to extend its boundaries, bu.t a petition was carried right around the country against it. “I think.” lie said, “the Government is not going to open the Te Aroha river. That river causes a loss to the railway. If the river was blocked the Government would be able to put 25 per cent, on the charges by the railway. He could not see that there had been the ability of a schoolboy in connection with the work the Government had done on the rivers. No man could drain anything by building a stop-bank. He was an old man, but he knew that much. Mr Coulter: I am afraid there is a tendency on the part of one of the Government departments to disfavour the navigation of The Waihou. ;W? are afraid that is so,, and that we are going to lose the waterway. The Chairman: Support our scheme and we will see that you do not lose the waterway. You, as a business man and a public man, must kno.v that, the back districts .are going to be the life-blood of this harbour. You cannot think that this Board is going to allow these rivers to be blocked. Mr Coulter: The position is that this river will be blocked before your loan could be carried. Unless something is done it will be blocked. The Chairman: Very well, come with us and we will see that something is done. If there is opposition to our amending clause, what can we do but go and see that the amende ing clause is given effect to. Mr Coulter r I can say that Te Aroha is opposed to the Amending Bill.

The Chairman: On what ground ? Mr Coulter: I think the two grounds I have given at different times —the practicability of the scheme and the navigability of the Waihou-.

The Chairman: You support pur scheme, and we will see that you get your, navigation.

Mr Miller said that, all Mr Coulter really said was suggesting that, the Thames Harbour Board was the sole remedy.

The chairman: The name is against it. It should have been named the Hauraki Harbour Board.

Mr Coulter: It is a very poor sop to us to say thp.t tihe Waihou River is blocking up, and that there will be a harbour .at Thames.

The chairman: What we want is the hearty co-operation of the people up there. We are prepared to cooperate with them to the fullest extent possible, and see that the river at Te Aroha is kept open, and we, in return, want ypu to support us to the fullest extent. Mr Coulter : Te Aroha is opposed io the scheme. They may be represented in Wellington. I thought I would like to let you know my position here. They are opposed to the Amending Bill. I wpuld like to know what you are doing here. The chairman : A number of us will go to Wellington from here and put our position before the Bills Committee, which I intend to do. We do not know what, opposition we may meet, but in the event pfi spmething being there we must be prepared to answer any opposition. If we were not there to do so we should be neglecting our duty to the Board.

Mr Coulter; I would like to know to what extent the board will be represented. The chairman : I would like to take Mr Coulter.

Mr Hetherington: You will probably meet him down there, (Laughter).

Mr Laughlin: Supposing that Te Aroha opposes the Harbour Boari and the board brings their evidence in support of the intention of obtaining control, of the river to ensure navigation, on what grounds would Te Aroha oppose the board ? Would they wish any other body tp do the work ? Mr Coulter : It is a very difficult question to answer. It is a case of being invited to enter into a partnership and one partner wants us to take certain liabilities before being a partner. The Chairman: You are already a partner. Mr Coulter : Yes, an unwilling partner. The Chairman : You have had representation. Mr Coulter: I came here chiefly-to watch. The Chairman : Assuming that the board will strive to obtain control of the river, what will be the attitude of Te Aroha ? Mr Coulter : Their attitude is that Te Aroha is not interested. If you could show that the scheme was going to benefit the whole district we would probably do a bit, but we do not wish to be forced into it. Our interests are in the river. Mr Donaldson: Can you- imagine any more likely body than the Thames Harbour Board ? Mr Coulter: Not so far as actual representation is concerned. The Chairman: I ain inclined to think that this board can use stronger arguments than anyone else in connection with keeping open the rivers. There is no local body that would be more likely to get the requirements of Te Aroha carried out than the Harbour Board, which was using every effort on their behalf. Mr Cooper : Te Aroha doesn’t want the harbour, but I want the harbour. The farmers make the towns, and wherever you go they would say: We want the harbour, and we are going to pay for it. Te Aroha cannot live without us. If we can bring things in this way Te Aroha will be better off. We want the river, and we want the harbour. Mr Miller: If the present Amending Bill becomes law, then the policy of Te Aroha should be to do its level

best to see that the control of the rivers is vested in the Harbour Board or some other body that’wpuld do its best. The Chairman : You throw in your .lot with us, Mr Coulter, and I dp not think you will have anything to qomplain of. If they throw in their, lot with us they will get something in exchange from this boar.d. I, for one, would not continue to sit on this board unless it was working for the interests of the whole district. This concluded the discussion.