The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, February 23, 1909. FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 23 February 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, February 23, 1909. FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Tub whole of the members of the Foxton Harbour Board have now been appointed. Mr W. Woods, late member for Palmerston, is the Government. appointee on the Board. The other members are : Mayor Gower and P, J. Heunessy, (Foxton) ; Mayor Nash. (Palmerston) ; Mayor Gardener, (Devin) ; Wilson, (Chairman Manawatu County Council) ; and Cr Tolley (Feilding). The port, governed by such level-headed public men, should soon be placed on a satisfactory footing. The first and most vital question to decide will be that of finance. At present the Board is without a rating area and the local bodies interested are dead against striking a rate for levenue or borrowing purposes. The Government were anxious that a rating area should be included in the Bill, but this suggestion was resolutely and rightly declined by the promoters, as it was pointed out that the port revenues were sufficient to meet requirements if transferred to the Board instead of being swallowed up by the Rail- 1 way Department. The Government, up to the present, have refused to hand over the wharfages, but a sop was promised by way of annual grant. Excepting perhaps the Government nominee on the Board, every member is of opinion that the revenue earned by the port should be spent on the poit. The Government argue that to

grant this request would he to create a precedent. This -is evidence of the fact that ports other than Foxtou are being unfairly exploited by the Government and to the detriment of such ports. Instead of hampering, the Government should do all in its power to assist the ports, thereby increasing shipping facilities which act in turn as feeders to the railways. Since the local port has been under the dual control of the Marine and Railway Department practically nothing has been done to improve the existing state of affairs. True, the Marine Department has spent more than it has received, but the Railway Department has been raking in the shekels to the tune of thousands, which has helped to swell the profits of the working railways. Mr Newman M.P., is arranging a conference with the Board and the members of the adjoining electorates in order to lay down a policy which we hope will result in overcoming the present unsatisfactory state of things.