THE FOXTON WHARF PURCHASE QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1218, 10 March 1914, Page 3

THE FOXTON WHARF PURCHASE QUESTION.

Says Saturday’s Palmerston Times:—“We regret to notice that the Hon. Mr Herries is advising Foxton Harbour Board to take a poll on the question of whether the ratepayers shall or shall not contribute to the |xchequer as special tribute to tta Government Pharoah which has set the Board to work to make bricks without straw. We trust the Board will not take any such steps, but will insist on Foxton Board being provided with an endowment of some kind or being handed over the wharf, free of charge. As head of the Railway Department, Mr Heiries naturally desires to see its revenue Increased, and is also adverse to yielding such a means of revenue as the Foxton wharf. But Mr Herries and his colleagues should remember that when the Foxton Harbour Board was created the State delegated to it duties it must otherwise perform, and it should therefore provide the money required, without expecting the ratepayers to burden themselves. Why should Foxton be exceptionally maltreated ? Every other Harbour Board in the Dominion possesses some source of revenue handed to it by the Slate, and even locally we find the Wanganui Board drawing revenue from land in the locality served by Foxton Board, while the latter is left without means. The State has no right to expect the ratepayers to come toils assistance in the manner suggested. The Department and the Board aie merely parts of the administrative service of Government, and if the Ministry endows the Board with the wharf it will do no more than justice. We strongly protest against the proposal to make residents in this district pay the Railway Department for that which should have been handed to the Board when it was constituted by the State.”

la laying several matters of local importance before the Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, at Devin on Saturday, the deputy - mayor (Cr Bleukhorn) mentioned that in their efforts to get control of the Foxtou wharf the Harbour Board had the support of Devin. In replying the Minister said the Department had settled on a price, and he believed it quite possible to agree if the people were reasonable. The Railway Department could not legally accept debentures, as had been asked ; they must have cash. The Harbour Board could borrow money to pay off the Department but the chairman of the Board was averse to this method. He thought the Board should find out if the ratepayers wished to purchase the wharves. It was possible there was not unanimity on the question, and if the Government brought up a bill to deal with it opposition would be brought to bear and the bill blocked.—Chronicle,