HARBOUR BOARDS’ CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 484, 23 September 1909, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARDS’ CONFERENCE.

MOTION BY MR NEWMAN M.P. At the conference of Harbour Boards sitting at Wellington, Mr Newman M.P., who is representing the local Board, yesterday moved the following important motion “That this conference resolves that in the best interest of the communities affected, thereby,, every Harbour Board should have the management and control of wharves in its own district, and that the Government be respectfully asked to give effect to this resolution.”

Speaking in support of the motion, Mr Newman said the Foxton Harbour Board was formed last year and the control of the port was handed over to the Board. This Board had to maintain and improve one of the largest river ports in tbe Dominion. The revenue from endowments were almost valueless while the principal source of revenue i.e. wharf- . ages, were seized by the Railway Department. Mr Newman went on to explain that the total expenditure on the port by all the Government Departments according to a return asked for in the House by Mr Laing M.P., was £2712. He said the wharfages amounted to ’ about .£2,200 per annum, so that it could be seen that the wharf had been paid fpr over and over again. The position now is that while. the Harbour Board has responsibilities and the management of the port, the profits accruing go to swell the railway receipts. He said this state of things was very unjust and improper and he hoped the motion would receive the unanimous support of the conference. He concluded by stating that surely the income of the port should not be diverted from its maintenance and improvement.

The motion was seconded and on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously.