FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1524, 18 March 1916, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held at Palmerston on Thursday. Present: Messrs P. Hennessy (chairman), J. A. Nash, F. E. Jenks, J, Robertson, T, J. Clapham and Holben.

The 'secretary reported that there was a credit balance of ,£735 os yd. It was moved and carried that ,£6OO of this should be re-de-posited for 12 months. The sub-committee set up to go into the Wharf Commission recommended that the whole question of representation, etc., for the Commission be left entirely to the Board’s solicitor, Mr Weston. The question of the desirability in the public interest of the transfer of the wharf to the Harbour Board would be settled on evidence, as also the value and terms of payment, which would also be settled by the Commission. Evidence would be forthcoming from the engineers of the Wanganui Harbour Board and Palmerston North Borough Council, the services of both officers having been generously ■ sanctioned by the respective bodies. The sub committee hoped that business people ot Palmerstou North and Feilding and other parts of the district would bring forth evidence founded on facts and experience of the past few years as to the benefits anticipated if regular aud certain navigation could be secured, leading naturally to greater expedition in transit of goods and possible cheapening of rates. The Board’s solicitors and committee had matters well in hand, but every ounce of local evidence should be made available. The report was adopted. A police report was submitted regarding the alleged blockage ol traffic on the Beach Road. The report stated that the writer had inspected the road in question on several Sundays running, and on no occasion was there a block except one Sunday morning when a collision occurred. Mr Holben pointed out that he had motored to Foxton one Sunday afternoon about a month ago, aud the road was blocked with motor cars from the approach to the beach back to tbe first bend, there being no fewer than about twenty cars not being able to get on to the beach. This was attributed to the drift sand caused by the southerly wind blocking the roadway. Mr Nash said that he was informed that tbe engineer of the Manawatu County Council had a man employed to clear the road if a block occurred. This concluded the business.

CONFERENCE WITH CHAM BER OF COMMERCE.

At the conclusion of the ordinary business the Board and Palmerston Chamber of Commerce conferred for the purpose of considering the tenor of the evidence to be adduced and placed before the i Commission set up to take evidence in connection with the wharf acquisition question. The chairman fMr Hennessy) and Mr Nash explained the position in regard to the gathering of evidence to put before the Commission. This testimony must be given by men who were best able to do so, and the members of the Chamber were so situated commercially as to be able to offer evidence in favour of the Board acquiring control absolute of the port. Facts and figures were absolutely essential. As far as the Board’s evidence was concerned no stone must be left unturned to produce ample and convincing testimony. Again, the point to be stressed was the advantages that undoubtedly would accrue should the Board’s ambitions be given adequate expression to.

Mr Nash said the river could be properly dredged and boats of heavy draught could, without unnecessary encumbrances, berth at the wharf. As illustrating the absolutely inadequacy ot the control of the wharf at the present time, Mr Nash stated that on Wednesday the Queen of the South came into the entrance drawing six feet of water while the bar at the time was capable of a depth of five feet only. The result was of course that the steamer could not cross the bar and remained there at the pleasure of the tide. This disclosed the vital importance of the river being cared for in a practical and businesslike manner. Should the Board acquire the wharf tremendous advantages would, result to the business people of Palmerston, while considerable impetus would be given to the commercial life of the town. The Board hoped and trusted the Chamber would extend every effort to produce facts and figures in its lavour to place before the Commission at its session in Palmerston. In the event of the Board assuming absolute control of the wharf the profits incidental to the working and control of the port would be expended in its improvement. The Government, said Mr Nash, had spent some money on the port, but it was so paltry an amount that it was not worth talking about, while the higher authority utilises all the profits. Mr T. R. Hodder, president ot the Chamber of Commerce, speaking on its behalf, said it was a

source of admiration to the members of the Chamber to observe the Board plugging away in spite of considerable discouragement and repeated rebuffs from time to time, and the Chamber hoped the Board would endure to the end. It was vital to the interests ot the townspeople and the commercial houses of the town that the Foxton wharf should be acquired by the Board. Palmerston, as a result of the policy obtaining relative to the control of the port by the Government, was in danger of retrogression in trade, which was gravitating to Wanganui, and the reason was, of course, that we had not the same shipping facilities as the rival port. Tbe Chamber was wholly determined to back up the Board’s case, and to do all possible to assist the Board In its fight. Between Palmerston and Feilding it was well known that the development of both towns was dependent largely o- • conduct of the Foxton Harbou., lor as it was now both towns received trade through Wanganui, and this because the larger shipping firms preferred, on account of the facilities offered, to ship through Wanganui. In this !act lay the explanation of Wanganui’s flourishing condition to-day. In conclusion Mr Hodder observed that it was totally absurd to flirt with any conception of greater commercial expansion unless the port of Foxton was developed (hear, hear), and this could only be given effect to by the acquisition of the whart by the Harbour Board. Captain Preece spoke on similar lines, giving his assurance that the Board would be supported in its contentions by the Chamber of Commerce, The Chairman mentioned the fact that some shipping men had intimated to him that if a rott. draught were allowed vessels, the port would be used by them. He urged both bodies to gather best evidence possible in their favour, laying stress on the point that the grave inconvenience caused by the present conditions hampered the progress ot the town. All the Board desired was the same facilities and treatment peculiar to the conduct and administration of other ports. He wished in conclusion to thank the members of the Cbamber for their presence and unanimity of opinion.