FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD LEVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4445, 29 April 1930, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD LEVY.

PALMERSTON COUNCIL PAYS GRUDGINGLY. SOME CAUSTIC CRITICISM. At last night’s meeting of the Palmerston North Borough Council, ! lie Poxton Harbour Board tfoi'warded a copy of a, special resolution passed by the Board in pursuance of “The Poxton Harbour Board Amendment Act, 1917’’ and requesting the Palmerston North Borough Council to make and levy the differential special rate of 1 -70til of Id on the capital value of the thorough. The amount of the rate payable by flic borough will be a in.

The Town Clerk informed the Council that the levy this year was about £SO more than last. year. The Mayor: I suppose we shall have to pay.

or. Eliott: Can’t we get out of it ? It is most unsatisfactory. Or. J. Hodgens: Why can’t we get out of it? This £4OO is being thrown into (lie mouth of the Mauawatu River. 1 can't see the necessity for a Poxton harbour. There will never Ik- a harbour there, as sure as the -,iui rises in the morning. The idea of having ibis little, petty harbour is “over the fence,” when we have a harbour in Wellington with all modern appliances and a good railway. We. may have to face bigger levies still while people fool around with Poxton harbour. We should protest so long as we have a good harbour at Wellington. Cr. Mansford said he was of the same opinion. “Where are these levies going to stop?” he asked. “Are they going to play around until we buy them a boat and harbour?”

The Town Clerk explained that the levy was lo meet interest and sinking fund on a loan which Palmerston North ratepayers had -auctioned by poll. The Mayor explained (dial the money was not for making further improvements. Cr. Mansford: Do they collect any revenue down there? The Mayor stated that last year 'he Harbour Board bad pointed out bal it was putting on a new boat and there should not be the need for further levies. Apparently, the boat bad not come till to expecta- : ions.

The Mayor agreed that there could never be a port t.berc. ICi\ Eliolt : The argument; used ,b.r to the poll was that local bodies would never lie called upon to ■ • ijt interest and sinking fund. The Mayor: That was election platform propaganda. Cr. Eliolt: Nature did not intend Poxton to be a port. Cr. Guv a lso protest cel against. 1 lie levy. Cr. Fitzlierbert thought the whole point was whether Ibe port gave a return commensurate with the expenditure. He would like the board to submit a report, then local bodies would be in a position of knowing whether the port was useful or not. He moved accordingly. Cr. Eliott, staled that lie bad been informed by the electrical engineer that the borough could get eouY through Eoxton 8/- a (on cheaper but boats would not. use the port. Cr. Mol.!- d agreed with the previous speakers.

Cr. FitzherbeiT.’s motion was carried.