THAMES HARBOUR LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4538, 12 March 1923, Page 2

THAMES HARBOUR LOAN.

LOCAL BODIES CONFER. A conference of local bodies was held at Morrinsville on Wednesday last to discuss what would be the best steps to take to defeat the Thames Harbour Board in its efforts to raise a loan of £60,000 for harbour improvements. Cr. J. W. Silcock was the Borough <■ Council’s delegate at the conference, and he reported as follows to the Council at its meeting on. Thursday evening:— ‘‘On reporting to the Borough Office at Morrinsville I was informed by the clerk (Mr McKay) that a delegation • from the Thames Harbour Board had arrived in Morrinsville the previous Saturday, and after a 3% hours’ debate with his council, the latter bodv had decided to remain neutral, but offered facilities whereby the Thames delegation could, if they desired, lecture to the Morrinsville ratepayers with the idea of Convincing them that the loan asked for was necessary and a distinct benefit to that town. The Town Clerk alsp informed me that the Mayor of Morrinsville (Mr F. Marshall), along with other, members of his cotincil, was going to the Cambridge show, and Morrinsville would not be represented at our meeting.

However, as I had time to spare before the meeting was due, i looked up the Mayor and told him that nil would be disappointed if he could not see his way clear to attend and hear the objectors’ side of the question. He appeared to be very decided about the matter, and informed me that he bad heard all that was possible from the Directors’ side, because his council had previously put up a determined fight against the Thames Harbour Rating Area Bill going through Parliament, but after hearing the Thamtc delegation his council had decided to remain neutral, and Morri i;sv*lle ratepayers could use their 'own discretion in voting for or aaginst. Also, his council’s contributi6n to the £60,000 loan would only amount to £2B per. annum. I pointed out to Mr Marshall that we considered the present loan only the thin edge of the wedge, and the .forerunner of the original proposed loan, which will amount to somewhere in the vicinity of £400,000. I also pointed out to him that the present loan will only benefit the Thames, as it is to be spent in dredging a channel for coastal vessels, and consequently would be no benefit to other local bodies who were asked to assist in footing the bill. However, Mr Marshall again said that his council intended remaining neutral. “I attended the meeting at 1.1 a.m., and about twenty representatives from other bodies were’ present, including Turua, Piako, Matamata, Te Aroha.; The presid4nt,of the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce and Mr ‘McGregor, the Borough Solicitor, were also present. The latter gentleman fought very had for Morrinsville against the rating area, and still is right up against the proposal, and I may say he cannot understand the attitude taken up by the Borough Council when previously they were so bitter against'the proposal. ‘‘All the gentlemen present spoke in strong terms against the propose i loan, which is unfair and unjust, and all fully understood that the present loan can benefit the Thames local waterway only, and no other local body will receive any benefit, although they are asked to pay for the job.

"Ways and means were fully discussed how to combat the loan proposal, and I consider that local bodies should -take up their own organisation and work in their own area, even to sending circulars out to all ratepayers. However, it was finally, decided to set up a committee of five, including myself, and this committee is to meet again in the course of two weeks at Te Aroha. In the meantime we are asked to do as much propaganda work in our own areas as we possibly can. "If it is found that the Thames delegation intends going to various centres and to speak on the benefits of the loan with the idea of influencing ratepayers’ votes, our committee will travel on their heels and address the same ratepayers, showing them the disadvantages of the loan. “I may say that all delegates who attended the meeting were greatly surprised at the complete change of front shown by the Morrinsville Borough Council. This council had, previous to hearing the Thames delegation, been one of the greatest opponents to the Thames Harbour Scheme. However, from information I gained from the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce and other sources, I find that the neutral attitude taken up by tint borough is not the feeling of the Morrinsville community. ‘‘l intend to bring the whole matte" regarding this loan before the local people at an early date, and, 'as the voting for or against it takes place on the same day as our Borough election, I hope T shall be given an opportunity before the election to pass what T know about this matter on to the local ratepayers and endeavour to chain a block vote against the proposed loan.”

After considerable discussion it was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, to endorse the action of the Council’s delegate