FOXTON HARBOUR AND GOVERNMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 494, 14 October 1909, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR AND GOVERNMENT.

REMARKS BY COUNTY CHAIRMAN.

RESOLUTION CARRIED

The chairman of the Mauawatu County Council (Mr J, G. Wilson), speaking as the Council’s representative on the Foxton Harbour Board at yesterday’s meeting, said the wharf at Foxton had cost about ,£IO,OOO. In dues the Government had received a net sum of ,£25,000, and yet to the application of the Board to have the whatf and dues vested in the Board, the Minister of Railways had hitherto given an absolute refusal. That had been done in respect to the Patea and Wanganui harbours, but Nelson and some other places, were in the same position as Foxton, and it had been suggested that a clause be put in the Harbour' Boards’ Bill, now before Parliament, directing the Government to hand over such dues to Harbour Boards, but the Minister had stated that if it was done the Bill would be dropped. Some time ago the Foxton Harbour Board was given control over the foreshore at Foxton, and it was noticed afterwards that a private wharf was extended over a portion of this foreshore for Messrs Levin and Co., and rent paid to the Government. On looking through the Gazette one day he (the chairman) noticed with some surprise that this piece of foreshore had been taken by the Minister of Railway's for railway purposes. In the meantime nothing was being done by the Government at Foxton to improve the harbour. The Harbour Board had no means, and the management of the government of the Foxton harbour had caused strong complaint from Mr Pryor on behalf of the Ship Owners’ Association. The Board had invited the Minister to visit Foxton to discuss the matter, but there was no certainty as to when he would come.

Crs McKenzie and Masters said the Council should make a protest against this state of things. On the motion of Cr McKenzie, seconded by Cr Henson, it was resolved, “ that this Council desires to enter its emphatic protest against the way the Minister of Railways persistently refuses to give the Foxton Harbour Board the revenue from the wharf, leaving the Harbour Board without sufficient funds to pay the necessary expense of dredging the river, sounding the bar, and also against the action of the Railway Department in retaking a portion of the foreshore which had been given by Act of Parliament to the Harbour Board as an endowment, ostensibly for railway purposes though it is let to a private firm for the purpose of a wharf.