CUSTOMS HOUSE AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3770, 3 September 1907, Page 2

CUSTOMS HOUSE AT FOXTON.

Mr Stevens’ Reply.

In acknowledging receipt of a letter from the local Chamber of Commerce, in which it was requested that the member for the district would use his efforts for the purpose of having a Customs House established in Foxton, Mr Stevens states :—“ Mr Wood, M.H.R. for Palmerston North, asked the Minister of Customs whether or not he would establish a bonded store at Palmerston N., and the Minister’s reply was asfollows; ‘lf the honourable member means a bonded store to be provided at the cost of the Government, the answer must be in the negative; but, if the intention is that the Minister should appoint premises submitted to him for approval, the matter will be considered, if the persons concerned are prepared to guarantee payment of such portion of the salary of any officer who may be placed in charge as may not be covered by the duty payable in • respect of bonded warehouses. A Customs Officer would have to be specially stationed at Palmerston North, as the supervision of the bonded warehouse could not be undertaken by an officer of any other Government Department. Before appointing a bonded warehouse at Palmerston North, the Department would have to be satisfied that the amount of goods which would probably be warehoused represented a sufficient amount of duty to warrant the course proposed.’ In view of this, I hardly think it likely that the Minister will consent to the establishment of a Customs House at Foxton in the meantime. I would, however, suggest that your Chamber should confer with the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, and ascer- , tain whether or not that body is prepared to join your Chamber in making the necessary representations for the establishment of a Custom Houseat Foxton and further that your Chamber may be good enough to obtain all possible data as to the value of the goods likely to be impounded, the amount of revenue to be derived therefrom, the cost of erecting the necessary buildings, the annual outgoing in salary and wages and the nature of the other duties which it is expected could be performed by the Officer in charge besides those of Custom House officer. All these details are necessary as it is perfectly certain that the mere bald request for the establisument of a Customs House will not be acceded to. I note in your letter it is stated that the establishment of a Custom House at Foxton will be of great service to Palmerston North and other places. I would therefore suggest that your Chamber might obtain from the various Chambers of Commerce and leading business people in Palmerston, Feilding, Rongotea, Bulls, Marton, Hunterville, Mangaweka and Taihape information as to what the probable amount or value of goods each of these several localities would be likely to importthrough the port of Foxton thus enabling me to place the matter before the Ministerin the most favourable light as it will be readily understood that unless large support be given by the business people outside of Foxton, it will not be possible for the Government to accede to the proposal v of your Chamber. I consider, \ in a matter of this kind that V during session time is the most unfavourable period at which to approach the authorities as the Ministers and their heads of Departments are so fully occupied in preparing legislative measures that it is unreasonable to expect them to devote any time or attention to questions which should properly be considered during; the recess. I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am extremely anxious that the wishes of your Chamber may be acceded to but believe that pressing the point at the present juncture would have the effect of nipping our negotiations in the bud and courting an unfavourable reply which might not be the case were the full detailed information which I have suggested presented to the Minister for Customs. I would therefore suggest to your Chamber that some < time after the prorogation of Par- ■ liament the Hon. the Minister A might be invited tovisit Foxton I witha view to personally observing for himself the importance of the trade being done both, in imports and exports. I shall therefore await with interest the information which I hope you may be able to obtain on receipt of which I will use my best efforts for the purpose of having this desirable project carried into effect. ”