MANUKAU HARBOUR BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 435, 12 September 1908, Page 3

MANUKAU HARBOUR BILL.

Railway Misappropriation

Auckland, September ix

Referring at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board in committee this afternoon to the Bill now before the House to vest the control of the Manukau Harbour in the board, the chairman (the Hon. K. Mitchelson) stated that when Mr Kidd, the member in charge of the Bill was in Auckland on Monday last he (Mr Kidd) interviewed him on the subject. Mr Kidd informed him that he had got the matter adjourned in order that he might get further information on the subject. It appeared that the Government were not disposed to hand over the endowments which they held, and particularly the wharf over which the Railway Department had no control. This being the case, Mr Kidd asked for a definite pronouncement on the subject. He (the speaker) had accordingly sent Mr Kidd a letter, expressing the view that, with the large expenditure necessary in connection with the development and improvement of the harbour, involving as it would many thousands of pounds, the board would not, in his opinion, be wise to take over the control of the harbour if the principal source of revenue was to be cut away from it. Mr J. K. Kueeu: '•The Minister told me during Fleet week that the Railway Department would not give over the wharf.” Several members observed that, in that case, it would be better to drop the Bill.