TH0SE LIGHTNING CHANGES. Somersaults over the Dock Question.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 108, 26 July 1902, Page 8

THOSE LIGHTNING CHANGES. Somersaults over the Dock Question.

NOW that it is practically settled that Wellington is to have a real dock of its own within the next eight years, it is interesting to ponder over the fact that Mr. George Fisher has been the " bell-wether " to entice recalcitrants through the gap. Quite a number of those who were opposed to the construction of a dock have suddenly changed their tactics, and have gone with the "seven-eighths" of the people of Wellington, whom, Mr. Fisher assures the world, are thirsting for disabled ships and something to put them in. Mr. Ferguson, the highly - gifted and highly - paid Engineer and Secretary to the Harbour Board, quite a while ago, when Mr. Nathan was horror-stricken at the thought of that £250,000 being lost in what he considered an unnecessary scheme, remarked that that sum would provide " practically nothing " for the plant of the dock. • # * Mr. Beauchamp, Chairman of the Board, said, too, that the expenditure of so large an amount would embarass the other more necessary works that the Harbour Board ought to lay out. It is apparent that both gentlemen have seen the error of their ways, and are now at one with the "seveneighths " of the people of Wellington. Everyone must acknowledge the superb generalship of Mr. Fisher, who persuaded these gentlemen against their own convictions, and everyone is now quite sure that the quarter of a million that Mr. Ferguson admitted would be sunk out of sight without any trouble at all, and without any complete dock either, will be better spent than in crying necessities. • * • In spite of Mr. Fisher's contention that "seven-eighths" of the people of Wellington are aching to have that dock, there are contentions from equally reliable sources that the wishes of the people of Wellington have not been ascertained on the subject. There may have been a house-to-house canvass, of course, but the fact doesn't seem to have got into the public prints, and the general public are probably not worrying one iota what takes place during the next eight years providing wages go up and rents go down. • • * Mr. George Fisher, among other things, has signified that " he's a hard nut to crack." Agreed without discussion. He is, too, a seductive charmer to be able to woo the enemies to his scheme into his way of thinking. Can it be that the Harbour Board, as at present constituted, trembles at the prospect of Mr. Fisher's " Wellington Harbour Board Act, 1879, Amendment Act " deposing them, making it impossible to decide questions of very large importance at hole-and-corner meetings not at all representative of the people ? Looking upon the harbour of the city as its finest asset, it is absolutely necessary that the interest of the people thould be stirred up on the Harbour Board question. We feel no diffidence in assuming the prophetic mantle of Mr. Fisher for the purpose and alleging that seven -eighths of the people of Wellington, if the question was put to them, would vote for an elective and representative Board. ■• • • With the prospects of that Amendment Bill, which provides for a very

general representation and election by the people of all the boroughs interested in Wellington Harbour, it is perhaps only natural that members should do what they are told " seven - eighths " of the people would have them do. In the meantime, whether the present Board is deposed, whether six members or twenty decide works of vast importance to the port, the dock is still in the remote distance. In ten years from date we shall be able to say whether the scheme is a success or a failure, and shall also be able loknow whether the leading opponents of the scheme who performed the double somersault in compliment to Mr. Fisher's vigorous propaganda were justified in theii nimble gymnastics.