THE PORT OF FOXTON

Otaki Mail, 21 December 1923, Page 3

THE PORT OF FOXTON

REPRESENTATIVE DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. POK RAILWAY:-.' CO-OTivihlilON. The ever-recurving iiuesiion of the advisability of- ufin.sm;; l-im j-u.-.-mi i'mi to bring n,.;.c-.a-u..i.. . • district was revived at the annual meeting °i lne Aorui Chamber of Commerce on utuaesuuy. -i dei.mat.ua, consisting; ol .uessi-s. JUmwL,ei-, Xh.P., and It. McMurray. secretary cf the Eoxfon Chamber of iSomnierce, waiting uj.on the meeting in rosard to the matter.. Mr. McMurray mentioned thai at one time they obtained all tne coal foi tins um, act through the. i.'ort ol foxtail, but wnen uia ihuoonr iJoaid toon ■ over the wnuri trom the railway Dcpaiuient that practice was uiscontmued. The Kail way Departmenv. maintained thai r'uxiou nr.u did not pay, but it the coal came through ■ the port the speaker coiiieinied Uiar it would be the best pay ins tine, bar none. He thought the Wesrpo.'t | peoi>le would be in favour of sending their coal through Foxton. He went, on to draw comparison, of the coals of get-tins coa.l throujjli tne fori NVehingion and the i'oic of i-'oxton. To get coal from Westport to foxton cos; Zi}/- per ton, while the freight front the Port to Palmerston North was o/l, a total of 25/7 The cost from Westport to Wellington was 11/2, hautage uo Thorndon 1/2, and freight to Palmerston North 13/3, a total 25/7. From Foxton, coal could D-J landed at Longburn for 25/2, and from Wellington for 2b/0. In Feiiaine, the price would be 27/11 Horn Foxton and 25/10 from. Wellington. There was a shortage of boars, but u' the Railway Uepariraent svoiud can a contract, Weatport rnigiit aec- pi: it and find the boats. .He a,..Ked for rive assistance of tnc Chamber in Hie

Mr. hinklater, in supportius the previous speaker, explained that tne Port was in better order now than it had evew been. Anything that would help trade at the Port or any movement that would tend to bring coal or merchandise through there would have the Harbour Board's hearty suppers. They would save a great deal of money if the coal for the district was brought through i'u.iton. Tiic.y luoked to Palmerston North, as a genera) centre, to get support in i.ne matter. lie expressed the hope thai something would ceme ol: the matter as, with the support of the people, they as a Harbour Board could progress. There was a movement on foot to straighten the river, aud tnai would greatly improve the Port, arid as time went on, bigger "vessels than at present, could be taken. The president, Mr. Pi. F. Yotiiis, said he personally favoured the sug-g-es-tion. Mr. Boniface expressed the opinion thai,, as business people of the town, they should support Foxton as a Port. Mr. J. U. Stevens iusk*d Mr. McMurray if he could supply lijmres in relation to the cartage of wool, .is that was an important matter to this district. Mr. McMurray said lie could supply them to the Cho.mbei. A.r. J_ A. Nash. M.P., mentioned that lile proper course to pur-sm would he to bring pressure to bear or tile snnisur or the General V.ianagei of i railways, and yet them to agree to bring coal through Foxton. Air. McMurray: It was our idea to yet a strong- deputation to wait upon the Minister to see if «** could ge his consent to pet. coal via. Foxton. Air. Young- assured the deputation of the Chamber's sympathy in tin matter.

Mr. Nash: 11 we go to Wellington, are w e soing to have any representatives from Foxton ? Mr. McMurray vouched for the support of tiie Foxton Chamber of Commerce, but he couid not speak fo r the council. ■ -w Tiie chairman suggested that a deputation from the Chambcr'shuuM go down to Wellington to interview the Minister. The deputation, he ibought should so down in January if that was suitahle. This course was eventually agreed to, and it was decided to mvite the eo-operation in the matter oi the Palmerston North and Foxton Countv Councils, the .Eairanga and Manawatu County Councils, the Foxton Chamber of Commerce and the members for lalmerston and Kangitikei. ';"*r«»:,i '■■- ■ ■ i.«. .'.■