THE FOXTON WHARF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1508, 10 February 1916, Page 3

THE FOXTON WHARF.

VIEWS OF PALMERSTON MERCHANTS. (Palmerston Standard).

As is well-known in this district, the Foxton Harbour Board has long been desirous of acquiring control of the Foxton Wharf. Such a desire is natural, for It is generally admitted that local affairs are better managed locally than by outside interests. The Foxton wharf is a Government property, but the only interest the Government has taken in it is to collect the wharfage dues. Beyond that the authorities have played a silent part, and no attempt whatever has been made to provide sorely-needed river improvements that would allow of improved shipping facilities in the way of a better draft ot water and accommodation that would permit of vessels entering and leaving the harbour irrespective of weather conditions. At the present time the Foxton shipping trade is largely controlled by the state of the weather, the bar and river, a condition which should not be allowed to exist if the true interests of the important district which is served by this port are taken into account. The policy of the Harbour Board has always been a progressive one, and to cater as far as possible for the Increasing demands of the district ; but its hands are securely tied in this respect, and any aspirations it may have entertained were nullified by the fact that the wharf properly was solely under Government control. To the man in the street it might appear anomalous that a Harbour Board should be iu existence at all, considering that its duties do not extend beyond receiving one or two reports each month. The results of the Board’s agitatiou for direct control have at length been given Government recognition, and a Royal Commission has been set up to take evidence from various sources as to whether the Harbour Board should be permitted to purchase the controlling interest in the wharf, and effect such improvements that would cater for present day requirements in a more efficient manner than obtains at the present time. In order to give the public some idea of the drawbacks which local merchants have to contend with, a Standard reporter saw some Falmeiston business men on Tuesday, who were able to speak with experience regarding the Foxton wharf facilities and its shortcomings as a shipping centre for supplying this district. The manager of one firm which conducts a large portion of its trade through Foxton complained of the delay in having to tranship goods at Wellington into small boats. Even then these small boats were not always able to enter the river. When it was remembered that Foxton was the distributing centre for the districts of Bulls, Dannevirke, Eketahuua, Palmerston North, Feilding. and as far south as Levin, it would be agreed that good grounds existed for an efficient service. The present was unreliable and this permitted of the congestion of traffic, and the Government made no attempt at Improving matters. If the Harbour Board got control and undertook the improvement of the waterway this would result in bigger ships using the port and a more frequent service, thus giving satisfaction to all parties concerned. Our informant stated that it was not uncommon for a boat to be hung np for four days in Foxton owing to stress of weather, and if a vessel arrived in bad weather it was unabje to enter the river, and had to return or go on to some other port. Merchants had no lault with freight charges on general cargoes, but goods such as flour, wheat, pollard and other produce were always railed from Wellington. “What we want,” said the merchant, “is a more frequent service and better facilities for serving the public, and this can only be obtained by the Harbour Board securing possession of the wharf.” A coal merchant, who has had considerable experience of the Foxton Harbour, stated it was owing to the dangerous state of the bar and river that the shipping freights to Foxton had been raised 5s per ton, which was an unfair impost to the residents of this district. Most of the coal brought to central North Island came to Foxton from Greymouth on the West Coast, and when the bar conditions were doubtful the coal boats did not waste time hanging about, but went on to Wanganui and discharged their cargoes. There was also considerable risk in navigating the river up to Foxton owing to there having been nothing done by way of dredging. This merchant is firmly of opinion that the only practicable harbour at Boxton would have to be built at the heads. It was an open roadstead, but a breakwater harbour could be constructed on the same lines as at Gisborne, Timaru or New Plymouth. This would obviate all the bar and river difficulties, and once established, the harbour would be there for all time. There was no doubt that the district required it, and the people ought to insist on their rights.