Endowment for Opunaki.

Patea Mail, 5 December 1881, Page 3

Endowment for Opunaki.

Mr Hutchison promises to get an endowment for Opunaki harbor. He says that, if elected, he will try to get a land endowment np to £25,000, and he considers this likely. Speaking at Opunaki last week, Mr Hutchison is reported by the Star to have said : Beading over the evidence of the New Plymouth Harbor Committee, he found the Surveyor-General expressing the opinion that a harbor could be constructed at Opunaki, and that the cost would be £SOOO to £IO,OOO. It would be much better to spend a sum like that at Opunaki than to squander a hundred thousand or two round the corner (a laugh and applause.) If returned, he would in two or three years have a harbor under way. It would be a proper and reasonable thing to ask for, and a likely! thing to get, an endowment up to say £25,000 from the land which would be so much enhanced in value by the construction of such a work. He could not hope to succeed in the contest by making such promises as his opponent was making up and down the coast, though judging from past performances those promises should not carry much weight ; but he would make this general promise, that he would do all in his power to further the interests of the district ; and especially with regard to Opunaki, would endeavor to settle the back country and open up the harbor. Mr Coffey asked, if the candidate were returned did he think he could secure an endowment for the harbor ?

Mr Hutchison thoroughly believed he could, and said so under a sense of the responsibility which would attach to him for having said it, if returned. It was only upon the principles of political economy that he said it, for if the land round Opunaki was benefitted, as it would be by the construction of a harbor, the sum represented by the endowment would be more than recouped to the value of the land. (Applause.) Mr Coffey said he put the question because the Major held out no hope of getting an endowment, saying the Upper House would be sure to throw it out if it were passed in the Lower House. He said he would try, but it would be no use : there were too many looking after endow-, ments.

Mr Hutchison said that was very true as a general rule, but peculiar endowments had been secured in the past. The application would be based on the fact that the remaining land would be materially enhanced in value by granting a small piece to the harbor.

It is a proper matter for electors in this district to consider how far Mr Hutchison is likely to succeed in getting the promised endowment, and what will be the effect if he gets it. He puts this in the class of peculiar endowments, and bases the claim on the fact that by giving part of the land, to the harbor, the remaining land will be enhanced in value. But in what way is the claim of Opunaki peculiar ? Is it not the claim of Patea and of other harbors that by endowing the local harbor with a piece of back-country, the remainder will be enhanced in vaiue ?

It is objectionable to see a peculiarity sot up where no peculiarity exists. Mr Hutchison is free to promise whatever he thinks ho can perform, but the promise made at Opnnaki is based on a plea which is delusive on the face of it. Let the natural facilities of Opnnaki be developed, with our hearty good wishes for success : but do not let politicians catch votes on delusive promises.