PROPOSED HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 434, 10 September 1908, Page 2

PROPOSED HARBOUR BOARD.

Special Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce.

A special meeting ot the Council of the local Chamber of Commerce was held in the Secretary’s rooms at 10 a.m. to-day for the purpose of considering a telegram from Mr John Stevens, M.P., embodying Cabinet’s recommendations to ensure passing the Foxton Harbour Board Bill. There were present: — Messrs Hennessy (Chairman), Stiles, Jenks, R. Moore, M. H. Walker, G. Phillips, Barnard and the Secretary. Telegrams* were read from Mr Stevens reporting correspondence between himself and the Prime Minister and suggesting that the proposed indignation meeting be held over until Cabinet had made a pronouncement.

Mr Stevens stated he interviewed the Prime Minister os>_ Fiiday last and the former promised to reconsider how Foxton could be put on similar financial lines as obtained at Nelson. Mr Stevens received the following telegram from the Minister yesterday : “Your representation regarding the Foxton Board and the M request for the Government to relinquish the railway wharf has been considered and cannot be acceded to. It involves the establishing of a precedent in connection with the whole country. The Government are willing to give a subsidy of £‘soo per annum, v tor ten years to the FoxtonHarbour Board provided it takes pai liamentary authority to have rating powers over the district that the Board is to serve similar to those ot say the Opuuake district. If this is done the Government will be very glad to give assistance to get the Bill through. J. G. Ward. The question of constituting a rating district is one that I shall lurther discuss with the Government because if they require rating to be compulsory I am, not in favour ot proceeding with the Bill, but if the rating clause can be made permissive by ratepayers and the Board, no injustice will happen. The substantiation subsidy of £SOO per annum for 10 years, and the Government offer to assist in passing the Bill, are factors of a decidedly favourable character, and ought not to be lost sight of if the taking of Parliamentary authority does not compel the levying of a rate, but only permits it if the people so desire. It can do no harm if included in the Bill, but should the Bill ’make it compulsory to levy a rate, I shall not proceed with it; but having advanced so far, however, I will use''": every effort to have the measure framed in the most satisfactory manner possible. Wire me tomorrow, fully, the opinion of your Chamber’s council. —John Stevens. After considerable discussion it was decided to forward the following telegram to Mr Stevens : “ In the event of the proposed Harbour Board building new wharf, we take it that the Board will have the right to collect all wharfages for all goods passing over that wharf and the railway wharf will be limited entirely to Government goods; also will Government give us railway connection with new wharf, in order to facilitate distribution of goods through the medium of the railway. Rating is out of the question. It was explained that if this proposal were adopted it would get over the precedent question. Mr Hernessy received a wire from Mr Stevens this afternooriystating that he intended to again interview the Prime Minister, a(nd would communicate the result of the interview.