FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1616, 28 September 1916, Page 4

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

a FEILDING’S SUPPORT. Messrs Hennessy (chairman) and J. A. Nash, members of the Foxton Harbour Board, as mentioned in our last issue, waited on the Feilding Chamber of Commerce ;on Monday evening in connection .with the rating area for the Board’s district.

The deputation was introduced by Mr Tolley, after which Mr Hennessy addressed the meeting. He briefly reviewed the efforts of the Board to secure possession of the wharf, as a result of which a Royal Commission had made it possible tor them to purchase the property. The Commission, however, had made the establishment of a rating area compulsory, and the Board had no option but to comply with that condition. At 'the present time, only £1(1,00(1 was required by the Board, but he had no hesitation in telling those present that Feilding would not he called upon to pay a rate as the revenue was sufficient to meet interest and other charges. Mr Hennessv then dealt with the imports received through Foxton, and .showed how these could be swelled it the harbour were put into .proper order. For instance, it would bo possible to hind coal al 3s per ton cheaper than the present rale, while the total saving lo the district if the harbour improvements were made would be £IB,OOO per annum. Assuming that the Board had the misfortune to be (Compelled to strike a rate, Foilding’s share would he only £4l per annum, hut he would repeal the . statement he had already made that no liability would be east on the Borough of Feilding by the establishment of a rating area. Foxton, for instance, would ho heavily penalised if a rate were struck, and as lie had substantial interests there, it was not likely that he would support the proposal if he thought taxation was to be very largely in- , creased at the port undei 1 the Board’s scheme. He concluded by 'expressing the hope that the Feilding Chamber of Commerce would give its hearty support to the Board’s proposals. Mr Nash also addressed tin* -(Chamber, during which he dealt with the rating proposals and the yiver improvements. He stated that The dredging of seventy chains of the harbour would give the Board si depth of from 20 to. 25 feet of water. All the local bodies in the lower portion of the district had ■supported the Board's proposals, and he expressed the hope that the Feilding Chamber would arrive at O similar decision. He could say with confidence that no rale would ;be collected on the loan of £IO,OOO, sis the Board knew its income would - jbe sufficient to (-over the expenditure. Feilding had much to gain by - the improvement of the Foxton harjbour, and in view of the great benefits to be’conferred upon the district by the Board’s proposals, he felt pure members of the Chamber would give their support to the scheme. Several questions were put to the ’(deputation by the President and Messrs Tolley and Cobhe, and satis- \ f'aetorily answered. The President (Mr McQueen) assured Messrs Hennessy and Nash that the matter would receive the Chandler’s most careful consideration. On the figures submitted, Feilding would be liable for a very small amount, and as the Board had been successful in securing the cooperation of other portions of the district, the Chamber would not like them to think that Feilding -would be “the fly in.the ointment.” He thanked the deputation for having placed matters so clearly before the Chandler. The deputation then withdrew, and the Chamber discussed the matter, as a result of which it was decided on the motion of Mr Tolley, seconded by Mr Cobbe, Tha I this Chamber recommend the Feilding Borough Council to support the rating area scheme proposed by the jFoxton Harbour Board.