The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 33, 1907 THE FIRST STEP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 23 November 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 33, 1907 THE FIRST STEP.

At Thursday night’s meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce, the question of the formation of a Harbour Board to control the local port, was introduced by Mr Hennessy. The Chairman, who, by the way, is local agent tor a firm which has practically the monopoly of the local shipping, endeavoured to strangle discussion on this vital question. We could excuse his extraordinary, nay childish conduct, on the ground of inexperience, were we satisfied that this was the sole reason. His threat that he will oppose the constitution of a Harbour Board “tooth and nail,” is transparently funny. It is on a par with the dominion country newspaper editor who started off by “warning the Czar.” His opposition, so far as we can ascertain, is that a Board could not be financed. We should be pleased to hear how he arrived at this stupendous finding, and to publish his investigations. However, apart from the chairman, the local Chamber has made up its mind to set the machinery in motion to form a Board. This is the most important undertaking the Chamber has vet attempted, and its progress will be followed with keen interest, not only by local citizens, but by tradespeople in Feilding, Palmerston, Woodville, Dannevirke, and Pahiatua. A resolution was carried at Thursday night’s meeting, convening a conference of delegates from the Chambers of Commerce throughout the district to discuss the subject. Our own member and the member for Palmerston, together with the Minister for Marine, will support the movement. It is now only a matter for arranging details. The old order of things must soon give way to the new. We feel sure every person who has the welfare of Foxton at heart will wish the local Chamber of Commerce every success in the work it has undertaken.