THE FOXTON WHARF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1425, 17 July 1915, Page 2

THE FOXTON WHARF.

LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER.

The following is a copy of a letter dated July 13th, sent by Mr Field, M.P. to the Prime Minister in connection with the Foxton wharf question : “ I enclose herewith a telegram received by me to-day from Mr Henuessy, Chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, stating that the decision of the Cabinet was anxiously awaited respecting the transfer of the Foxton wharf from the Railway Department to the Board. As I informed you when Mr Buick and I waited upon you some days back, the Board disapproved the settlement of the question ot price by means of a commission, mainly because they would have little or no voice in the appointment of the Commissioner. They, however, directed me to say that they would be willing to accept either one of three proposals which they make (1), that the whole matter should be submitted to the Chief Justice for decision ; (2) that the Government should accept ,£SOOO payable on terms so as to render the striking of a rating area and taxing unnecessary, or (3) that the matter be submitted to arbitration in the ordinary way, each side ap*. pointing an arbitrator, who should themselves select an umpire in case of disagreement. I understand the Solicitor-General, who was asked to advise on the question of the basis upon which the prices should be assessed, has replied that this was a matter rather of Government policy. Legislation is necessary in order to empower the Department to sell the wharf, and in the event of the ,£SOOO not being accepted, a provision could be inserted in the Bill providing the method of ascertainment of the price. My opinion is that the Railway Department have already received too large a harvest for all these years, and they should be satisfied if they receive nothing whatever. They have, as I told you, throttled the whole of the Foxton district, and to some extent all the surrounding district including Palmerston, Shannon, Levin, Sandon, Bulls, Feilding, Marton and their hinterland including Woodvllle, Pahiatua and other places on the Napier side of the Gorge, for many years, in order that they might reap a handsome profit from the wharf, upon the capitalisation of which profit they now assess the price of the wharf at ,£28,750. Had the Board or the Government been controlling this wbarf they would under the Harbour Act have been prevented from making any profit, and have been forced to spend all revenue, after deducting working expenses, in river improvements. This I maintain is the attitude the Railway Department should have taken, but their endeavour has been to make all the profit possible irrespective of the interests of the district or anybody else. The whole thing *s little short of a scandal, and the people are now clamouring indignantly for relief.”