MAINTENANCE OF PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4461, 5 June 1930, Page 3

MAINTENANCE OF PORT.

PROVISION FOR FUTURE. The suggestion that, if any future levy was to be made for the maintenance of the port of Foxton, a conference of contributing authorities be held was advanced at Monday's meeting of the 1) oxton Harbour Board. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., said that if it were found at the end of the year that it was necessary to make another levy there should be a conference with the contributory authorities. If it could be proved to the delegates that the district obtained great benefits by keeping the port open, there was no doubt that they would be satisfied. There was some comment last year when a levy was struck and this year some of the bodies were taking it unkindly.

Mr. R. Edwards: It is no use taking any notice of these statements, as no reasons are given. If the local bodies gave reasons we, as a- public body of sensible men, should go into the matters raised. The board is doing its best to carry on economically. Mr. M. E. Perreau: If we are to ask for money every year we should get together and explain the position. Some people do not seem to realise what the benefits are. I do not think if will be necessary to make a levy next year. We, are quite satisfied that the ratepayers are deriving benefits, but some of the contributing bodies apparently are not.

Mr. Edwards: I am not going in for any fireworks management. The harbour is satisfactory from every point of view. QVIf. J. Linklater, M.P.: It is hard to predict what the future holds. Better roads have enabled goods to come quickly and expeditiously, but we are dealing more particularly with the South Island, and I am satisfied that we are giving service. Some of the items on the estimates are not recurring and it is unlikely that there will be levies jn the future.

On the motion of Mr. Nash, it was decided that if it were found at the end of the financial year that a levy were necessary, a conference be held with the contributing authorities to discuss the benefits derived from the port. Mr. A. J. Kellow: The Feilding Borough Council is perturbed at this extra demaud. They had thought that last year’s levy would he the final one. I had come to the conclusion that the levy would be an annual one, the running of the port will, in my opinion, never be profitable while we are without the pro fil from Wellington business. The railway has always been a great opponent to Foxton business, but we have fixed our freights on a competitive basis. Other freight has been lost to the road vehicles. The petrol freight was the most profitable that we had, aud by the new way of distributing benzine this also has been lost. We have been relying on freights for products from Lyttelton. If the law was changed, and the Dominion could import wheat from Australia without the sliding scale, it would he cheaper than importing wheat from Lyttelton, so that we would lose this source of revenue. I * have pledged myself to oppose expenditure that it not revenue-producing. The wharf is not used much and the proposed repairs do not seem to be essential. The resolution is a fair one and we should do all we can to satisfy the contributing bodies. If they are of the opinion, like the Palmerston Borough •Council, that the port should be closed, the only way we can prove that this course is not warranted is to demonstrate that the ratepayer is getting his bread cheaper bv the operation of the port than without the port. Mr. W. E. Barber, in endorsing these remarks, said that they constituted a true statement of the position. The Manawatu County Council was perturbed at being called upon to pay £265, but the discussion had been held over. More would be heard from the Council later.

Mr. Edwards: Does Mr. Kellow think that we have lost the trade in flax to the railways for ever? It seems to me that this district is being - penalised in numerous ways by the eommercialing of the railways. '■

Mr. Kellow: I do not know whether the department is justified in making such arrangements for the carriage of flax. I think it is foolish, however, as by agreeing to carry the lot they are now getting £3 for three tons as against £2 Ifi/for two tons.

COMPARISON OP COSTS. The secretary presented a return showing how Levin and Shannon saved money by using the port. The figures for Levin were as follow : Class of goods. "x ° S a d § ‘go -a^ bL S g a g 7, =j-i tc eSc ~ p O i—l .rt -*-» O •'-1 (DO rM os S-cL % S'.2 J ~rJ «2 «g O > 3* S

Shannon benefited as follows:

Mr. Link-later said that he and ■Mr. Nash had Interviewed the Minister of Railways last week, and had placed the ease of the Foxton port before him. H© promised to

make inquiries and also to inquire into the preferencinl rates for hemp. A Royal Commission to inquire into railway working was to ho set up in I lie near future, and the Minister suggested ihat a representative of the hoard be present at the meeting of the commission.

Mr. Nash endorsed the chairman's remarks. The commission’s work would be to investigate the loss on the railways and the question of freights from Foxton would naturallv be reviewed. ROAD TO BEACH.

The condition of the road from Foxton to the beach was referred to by Mr. Edwards, who stated that it was in a bad state. Air. Barber said that plans were being- prepared for the improvement of this road, and mneli had already been done to it. Iligli tides and heavy winds caused erosion of that portion near the beach. The board decided to expend £25 for shrubs and marine grass provided the Beach Committee planted same.'

NATIVE LAND. Speaking of the desirability of purchasing 800 acres of Native Land near the heads, Mr. R. Edwards asked that another meeting of the owners be held. The secretary stated that lie had interviewed certain of the owners who, when offered I/- per aero, which was the Government: valuation, asked for £1 per acre. He had told them they had no chance of getting that. “Wle had better let the matter rest for the present,” said Mr. Liniklaler. “It has been allowed to rest too long," said Mr. Edwards. The land was wanted by the Marine Departineid and by the board for the planting of trees. Mr. Edwards desired the adjourned meeting to he held as soon as possible and suggested that owners- who live at a distance should appoint local representatives. It was finally decided (o hold a conference between the land-owners and the board next week. It was decided to ask (lie Beach Improvement Committee to meet the local committee regarding the question of tree planting during the current vear.

£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. A 3 16 10 2 4 7 1 12 3 B 3 9 3 2 4 7 1 4 8 C $ 3 0 2 4 7 18 5 D ' 2 14 3 2 4 7 9 8 E 1 16 4 1 13 10 2 6 EJ 2—1 7 1 16 8 4 11

A 4 2. 8 2 2 1 2 0 7 B 3 13 9 2 2 1 1 11 8 C 3 6 6 2 2 1 1 4 5 D 2 17 9 2 2 1 15 8 E 1 17'' 6 1 13 4 4 2 FA 2 3 4 1 18! 4 5 0