HARBOUR BOARD BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 431, 1 September 1908, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD BILL.

Indignation Meeting to be Held. A meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the secretary’s rooms last night, for the purpose of considering a letter from Mr J. Stevens, M.P., in reference to the Harbour Board Bill. There were present: Messrs Hennessy (chair), Stiles, Ross, Walker, Perreau, Barnard, and the Secretary. Mr Stevens stated that he had been informed by the Minister for Railways that the latter had consulted with his colleagues as to granting wharfage dues to proposed Board, and they had decided that it could not be done. Mr Stevens recommended putting a Bill through with the clause relating to wharfage dues deleted, as he considered it most probable that the Government would grant the Board funds from other sources to carry on its work. Mr Stevens advocated, provided the promoters agreed to delete the aforementioned clause, the rousing of the whole district, from Taibape to Foxton, during the recess, iu order to impress upon the Government the importance of having a strong financial Harbour Board at Foxton.

Mr Hennessy considered that unless the Bill was passed in its entirety, it would be useless establishing the Board, as the latter would be practically without a strong finance, i.e., all revenues accruing through the medium of the port, which is the natural heritage of every man, woman, and child in the district. He stated that to accept any compromise would affirm the right of the Government to continue the present iniquitous state of things. Besides, a grant would only be of a temporary nature, and what increase of trade the Board might bring about would redound mainly to the good of the Government. The other members supported the arguments of the Chairman. It was finally resolved to hold an indignation meeting in the Public Hall on Tuesday next, and to request everyone in sympathy with the movement to prove by their presence that the Government are unjust in fleecing the river to swell the railway revenues.