THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 21 November 1908, Page 3

THE HARBOUR BOARD.

[to the editor.] Sir,—A great amount of indignation was expressed at Mr Stevens’, meeting last night, against the Rangitikei Advocate for believing that a rating area would yet be prescribed for the Foxton Harbour Board, This fc idea of the Advocate’s was made |.o detract in some mysterious way iffvtn the qualification of the Opposition candidate —Mr Newman, Rigmt through, wherever and whenever Mr Newman has referred |to the Foxton Harbour X

Board, he has shown himself as clearly against a rate being struck over the district as Mr Stevens has. But let me ask who is responsible for the suggestion of creating a rating area, and the imposition of a rate to create funds for the Harbour Board ? Why ! No other person than Sir Joseph Ward ! And is it not true that Mr Hennessy denounced the proposal of Sir Joseph Ward’s, and would have none of it ? Now, here we have Mr Stevens and Mr Hennessy denouncing the Advocate lor the suggestion of a rate for Harbour Board purposes, and praising and supporting and following the very man who is the author of the proposal. What lovely consistency ! Then, who was it in a most determined, if not discourteous manner declared that the Government would not give up the harbour dues —the Boards legitimate income—to the Harbour Board? Why the Hon. Hall Jones, a member of the administration that Mr Stevens so loudly eulogises. Surely Mr Hennessy overlooked this fact. How has the Government treated the vital interests of Foxton during these past few months, despite the energy that the member for the district has put forward. Fair play is bonny play and the Harbour Board should not be allowed as a weapon against a man who has promised to give it every support and is not in favour of a rating area.—Yours etc.

G. K. Aitken