THE FOXTON HARBOUR BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1745, 25 October 1917, Page 3

THE FOXTON HARBOUR BILL.

PASSES ALL ITS STAGES. Mr W. H.'Field (Otaki), in moving the second reading of the Poxton Harbour Board Amendment Bill, said the Bill would settle a longstanding difference. The Pbxton harbour served a large district, and the wharf ought to be vested in the Foxton Harbour Board instead of the Railway Department. The present Bill would consummate the efforts of many men, and the river would now receive due attention. A dredge would be provided, and the channel would be kept open; the port would be able then to serve a very valuable purpose, Mr Massey said he had been urged to provide for the preservation of a piece of native bush valued by the local people, and had consented to the inclusion of a clause in the Bill to this effect.

Mr Newman, M.P. ? expressed pleasure that the Bill giving the Foxton Harbour Board power to raise money to improve the port had reached its second reading. It had been a long process, negotiations going back to 1908, when the late Mr John Stevens, former member' for Manawatu, had charge of the first Bill, which reconstituted the Board, but which measure was rendered almost useless because the original Bill deleated the Board’s principal source of revenue. The present' BilJ, constitutes a reasonable area over which a rate can be struck, and it only now remains for the ratepayers within the voting area to support the Board in its efforts to improve the port. Foxton, for half a century, had suffered as a port from the jealousy of Wellington on the one side and Wanganui bn the other. The port should serve a district including not only Rangitikei and Manawatu, but the Main Trunk line up Taihape, or even further north. If the same attention had been given to the development of the Manawatu River as to the Wanganui River, Foxton would have been a large and important town by now. Mr Newman hoped, however, that the result of the legislation now before the House would lead to the early development and improvement of the river as a port, and great expansion in the town of Foxton. “Some day,” continued Mr Newman, “the Main Trunk railway will be linked up between Marton and Levin, passing through Foxton en route, and perhaps before that, a Government will be found that will run railways in the interest of the country.” Mr Newman continued that he did not believe the rate for the loan of £IO,OOO authorised by the Bill would ever be collected. It must be admitted that in agreeing to pay seven-eighths of any rate that is to be struck, Foxton has shown its confidence in the future of the port.

Mr Newman referred to the fact that an endowment had been promised by a former Minister if a special rating district was formed. Wanganui and other Harbour Boards had valuable endowments, and Eoxton was equally entitled to such assistauee. Mr Newman concluded by congratulating the member for Otaki (Mr W. H. Field), the Harbour Board, and especially Mr P. Hennessy (chairman) for the tenacity and determination they had shown in getting justice for the port, and stated that so loug as he was in the House he would assist the Board to get justice done to this district, which, in his opinion, had been so long neglected and unfairly treated.

Mr Yoiteh (Wanganui) said he could assure the House that the Wanganui Harbour Board had no jealousy towards Eoxton. The utmost cordiality now existed, whatever had been the position in the past.

Mr Field, in reply, said he agreed as to the desirability of preserving the Round Bush, the last piece of virgin forest in that neighbourhood. The neecssary clause would be inserted in another place. . He thought that the Foxton Harbour Board, which owned the bush, should receive adequate payment if it parted with its portion of its endowment. The Bill was read a second time and put through committee and passed, a clause providing for the preservation of the Round Bush being added.