THE FOXTON WHARF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1061, 8 February 1913, Page 3

THE FOXTON WHARF.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. THE PURCHASE PRICE £28,700. . The ownership and control of the Foxton Wharf was the object of the Hon. Mr Hemes’ visit to Foxton on Thursday. He was accompanied by his chief departmental officers, Messrs Ronayne and Buxton. A large and representative deputation waited upon the Minister in the Borough Council Chambers, consisting of the Mayor of Palmerston, Messrs P. J. Hennessy (chairman of the Harbour Board), B. R. Gardener (Mayor of Levin), A. J. Gibbs (Mayor of Foxton), Harford (borough councillor, Feildingi, all the members of the Harbour Board ; D. Buick and E. Newman, M.’sP.; M. A. Eliott (president), F. J. Trasker and J. M. Johnston, of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce ; and Borough Councillors of Foxton and representative residents of the town and district. HISTORY OF THE BOARD. Mr Newman welcomed the Minister, and explained that Mr Robertson, M.P., was absent owing to illness, and lie bail been asked to act in Ids stead. Coming to the wharf question, lie stated that, about 30 years ago the Foxton Harbour Board and other harbour boards were in the same position in regard to improvements. Wanganui and Patea retained their Boards, and bad a sufficiency of endowments—in fact, Wanganui experienced extraordinary success. In regard to Foxton. however, somebody blundered, and the Harbour Board wu> allowed to be abolished. The result was that all the property of (lie Foxton Board passed into the hands of the Government and fron thence to the Railway Department. in 1907 Mr Stevens took charge of a Bill to restore the Foxton Harbour Board, and it. became law. but the Government, unfortunately out out the wharfages. This body was only a Harbour Board in name, but without, supports. The endowments were not worth mentioning—they brought in barely enough to pay salaries. The- position now was that they had a wharf over which there was a large deficit. The Board appealed to the House for relief, and a committee of the House was sot up. in 1910. to inquire and report. The report referred the petition to the Government with a recommendation to arrive at the value of the wharf by arbitration. The point he wanted to bring up now was that it was the duty of the Board to improve the river, and the natural fund for this purpose should he the income from the wharf. If (he Rail-

way Department had spent all the money made from the wharf on the improvement of the river, there would probably

never have been a demand for the Board. At present every pound spent by the Board in inproving the river simply went to enhance the value of the position they had

to pay-for. Ho hoped this Government would adopt the policy that the money derived from those sources should go to improve the wharves, and that they would not. take up the attitude of previous Governments and say: “We’ve got the wharf, and we’re going to stick to He was not going to discuss tho price of the wharf — it had been placed at various figures. In Hansard it was first, reported that Mr Millar wanted £20,000. Later it had risen to £23,000, then to £28.000, and lastly to £36,000. This was turning the affair into ridicule, but. he hoped that the blunder of 1896 would be remedied by the present Government. THE CHAIRMAN’S ARGUMENT. Mr Hennessy, chairman of the Board, said ho was only going to take up the question in regard to tho price of the wharf. Since he last interviewed the Government, some advice had been received that there was no such thing as a goodwill question concerned wj|h the wharf. All they wanted to do was to live on amieable terms with (lie Railway Department, and have tho Harbours Act carried out in its entirety, so as to provide that the revenue accruing from tho harbour should ho spent in the harbour. Tho wharf at present was in- a very decayed state —it was practically rotten. They had had Mr liaise, an engineer from Wanganui, to inspect it, and he had reported that it was just about worn out. They would like negotiation'■ . to go on, and that- they should pay for the wharf as it was at present, while any moneys they received from it should be spent" as the Harbours Act compelled them to. From time to time it had been brought before 'him that, should the Board achieve their desire they would be entering into competition with the railway. In his evidence before the committee of the House, however, ho made it very clear that tho Board would rather bo helping the railway, as it would derive a profit ftom the level line from Foxton to Palmerston. Ho confined himself to this point: that the object of the deputation was to enter into negotiations with the Government and make it a iair deal. UNENVIABLE CONDITIONS. Mr J. A. Nash said lie had been struck by the very mild remarks of tho chairman of the Board. The members had been on- - doavouring as far as possible to carry on the work of tho Board with a small income. They had had two subsidies from the Government, of £250 each, and he asked what the Board could do with such small sums towards bringing a dredge to the port to improve the river. The result was that they spent the money in various sums for tho minor work of the river. He felt that the people in Palmerston, who took the largest supplies from the wharf, were not receiving justice. Only tho day before (hey had road of two steamers being delayed for about ten days owing to (he state of tho river. They had boon told, particularly by Mr Millar, that they could do nothing until they became a rating area, and tliis bad been holding them back for a long time. If tho matter was brought before the House again they would find themselves in the same trouble. At limes he had expressed regret that such a Board as tips had come into existence. They yvtie- looking to Mr Herries, as the representative of 'the Government, to give them g. fair and square ejeal. PALMERSTON SUPPORT, Mr Eliott said the request of the Harbour Board had the unqualified support of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce. It was felt that Palmerston, Feilding and the surrounding districts were vitally affected bv the goods traffic through Foxton, which seemed to be the natural outlet for country extending from stations on the Main Trunk lino over as far as Ekctahuna. At present business people had to wait a week or ten days for goods, owing to the want of proper facilities for handling them at tips port, and the need for improving tho river and t a k ln o “*e right class of steamers. No funds, however, were available for the improvement of the river, and they could hope for no expediting of the delivery of goods until the Board was in a better financial position. The Board should be allowed to handle its funds and enable the river to he deepened, and larger boats to come tip. There had been a great deal of trouble through the goods sited in Foxton being inadequate. He trusted that the Minister would meet the request of tho Board in a reasonable way, and do everything to fapifijafo the matter in hand. borough of foxton.

Mr Gibbs said that the burgesses of Foxton recognised that the whole prosperity of the town was wrapped up in the condition of the river. The goods shed accommodation was quite inadequate, and at present the people were unable to obtain supplies of coal. What toe Board was fighting for was only reasonable and just—that the money from the river should fee used to improve the river. LEVIN INTERESTS. Mr Gardner said he came from the Harbour Board, the Levin Chamber of Commerce, and Borough Council. He maintained that the people of the district had created the profit that came from the wharf. If the Government charged for the goodwill on £20,000 they were only taking money out of one hand and putting, it into the other. The Board was created for rho welfare of the public, and “ tne (jbvernment wanted' £20,000 for the whai l ihoy'weie robbing a certain munber of eommunjt.Vi Ho contended that the nucstion of competing with the. ment by a local body should not be raised all Why should the Government ask the nrice ofa goodwill from the people of thU district when fhev had distributed the ■refits all over (lie Dominion? 1 hu- disf wil'v the G‘ovtinineiifc v V.'ifc TmyttiiW & passed lujfampreJteasiou. >

A CONUNDRUM. Mr Harford said tlio people of Feilding were always faced with the conundrum as to why tlx Government wanted £20,000 or £30,000 for a wharf that. cost, less than £7OOO. He considered it was in the, interests of Ids district to help .he Board all he. could to get the wharf. During pm iirilte arro«ff do nw*®* of '' coasting siL-aVUCi’-,, *. „ 111 a ! 0,1 to the utility ol the vuil.il, an ti.v > J -vaj had as much work as it could do. ctjocls coming through Foxton did not detract from the Department's profit at all. THE MINISTER’S REPLY. Mr Herrins, after thanking die speakers for placing the position so fully before him, said that the general question raised a good many other questions. With ro•rard to the sale of the wharf, some of the speakers had indicated that the Government ought to he different from oilier concerns, but lie did not agree with them. Ho was prepared to deal with the Board, and to sell the wharf to them at the price already named—-£28,700. That price was ealc-iilai'-d at a low interest on the earned money, lie would lot that oiler stand till the end of next session. The trouble was that tlic Board bad no money with which to buy the wharf. He agreed somewhat with Mr Millar, that the Board should take rating powers. Ho assured the deputation that he would not increase the price. OBJECTIONS. Mr Harford : It is increased £BOOO now. The Minister stated that that was the price two years ago. , A mombur objock’tl that, tlio wharf had become rotten in I bat time. Mr Merries: If it is rotten that will have to be considered. Mr Gardener asked what profit was being made out of the wharf, and the Minister stated that a return could he supplied. . , Mr Harford: The ratepayers will not. give the price; they will wait for a change. said he did not believe in giving the properly away. It was the property of the Dominion, and the Government should get its revenue-producing price. , , . The Mayor asked what was given for the Pelone wharf, and the Minister explained that the price was calculated in the same way. , , , Mr Harford: Belter let the bar silt, up. Mr' Merries added that the. Department bad to spend a certain amount of money m giving access to the wharf Mr Gibbs; What are you going to do with the freights? . Mr Merries: Naturally the wharf is no use without the railway to it. If you want to purchase the wharf I am prepared to see it. The position is that the Board can manage the wharf bettor than the Railway Department can. If you can show a reason why the Government's price is too high, we will deal with von in a business way. If you send down ,-i deputation we will try to treat with you Mr Henncssy said that the Harbours Act provided that, money made from a liarlxntr must, be siient on a harbour. Tlio Government since 1886 had not spent, a penny on the wharf. They were only asking to be placed in the same position as formerly, before the error occurred through which they were passed out of and to be on the same footing as Wanganuj. Patea and Waitara. He did not think it

fair or just that the peopleof this district shook! ho mulcted for all lime in tho sins of their predecessors. Mr Nash said it was very evident, flint the Railway Department wanted the wharf, either would not ask sneh an outrageous sunt. The Hoard had legal advice that they had power to construct another wharf. If they did that, would (hey receive every assistance from the Government? Mr Herries: Tho Marino Department would havo to look after that. Mr Newman: Tho calculation for that wharf is capitalised as at the present day. You havo to assume that it is in perfect condition. Mr Gardener suggested a separate valuation. tho Board to compare with tho Government’s figure. After the discussion of another topic the Minister revolted to lha subject first under consideration, and asked (lit* Board if they were tming to take the wharf at his price. Mr "it ennessy: No, certainly not. The Minister again promised to keep his offer open till the end of the session, after which, he said, they could talk about arbiI ration.

Mr Buick spoke in support of the deputation's arguments, and after a little desultory discussion tho meeting terminated.

—■ • THE TRAMWAY TOUR.

MARTON, Feb. 7. Hon. W. H. Herries and party, with members of the Foxton Harbour Board, loft Foxton this morning by the Sandon tram and motor cars for Rongotca and Marton. On the way they were joined by Messrs E. Newman, M.P., J. G. Wilson, and F. Pirani. At Rongotca they were shown over the butter factory, and afterwards entertained at a light lunch, at which Mr H. H. Hunt extended a welcome, and Mr Herries responded. The party then travelled via Sanson to Marton, arriving shortly before noon. Several side excursions were made on the way by motor, to enable the Minister to sec the country alloctcd by the proposal to extend the tram lino to Marton. .Mr Herries receives deputations this afternoon, and joins the Now Plymouth express for Welington.

THE MINISTER AT MARTON

MARTON, Feb. 7. A strong deputation, representing the local bodies along the coast from foxton and inland as far as Huntervillc, met the Min inter to urge the connecting up of tho Sandon tram with tho .Main Trunk line. Several sjieakcrs were heard, and the Minister, in reply, said he would go into the matter with his ollieers. At the same time lie asked Ihe local bodies to supply him with further information.

He also promised consideration with Ihe heads of the Department of a request for the speeding up of the train which leaven Palmerston North for Wanganui at 7.10 a.in., returning in tl(e evening.