HARBOUR BOARD AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 463, 29 June 1909, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD AFFAIRS.

INTERVIEW WITH Mr J. A. NASH. In conversation with Mr J. A. Nash, member of the local Harbour Board and Mayor of Palmerston, this morning, he informed our representative that last night’s meeting of the Board was the most successful yet held and members are now getting a good insight into the Board’s affairs. At the present time the Board was hampered for lack ot funds. He said that one of the Board’s best assets was the residential sections at the Heads. At the present time there are many enquiries being made, particularly in Palmerston, for sections on which to erect seaside dwellings. In his opinion the policy of the Board to submit these sections to public auction, with an upset rental, was a step in the right direction. When these were leased the Board’s funds would be considerably enhanced. Mr Nash said in respect to the freezing works site, that his action in opposing the offer of laud for this purpose, was not with a view of prejudicing Fox ton’s prosperity —but he was actuated by other motives. He reiterated that the erection of freezing works would seriously prejudice the seaside resort. He had no hesitation in saying that the local beach was one of the finest in New Zealand, and he was glad to hear the admission made by one of Foxton’s leading business men, Mr M. H. Walker, that the town had benefitted to the extent of through the influx of visitors to the seaside last year. This, he considered, was further evidence why the freezing works should not be erected here. Eocal residents would remember that five years ago he came t 6 Foxtou and addressed a public meeting, and urged local, residents to push on with the erection ot houses at the seaside, and, as the then president of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce, he held in that town several very representative meetings in connection with this subject, and he siid he felt pleased to-day to know that his efforts had met with some measure of success. Mr Nash said notwithstanding his opposition to the freezing works, he was a believer in the majority rule every time, and the Board having now decided by a majority to confirm the offer of a freezing works site, idhembers would find that in this connection he would do all he could to assist them. When asked to make any reference to the foreshore leases under discussion last night, he said the subject for the present should be treated sub judice

hut he was in a position to say "that the Board would know the true position at the next meeting. The foreshore was a very important and valuable asset, and too much care could not be exercised in dealing with this matter.