BOARD’S DILEMMA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 945, 11 April 1930, Page 11

BOARD’S DILEMMA

THAMES HARBOUR SCHEME GOVERNMENT HELP NEEDED Special to THE SUX THAMES, Thursday. That the only hope of completing the Thames Harbour scheme would bo with the assistance of the Government was expressed at the meeting of the Thames Harbour Board last evening. Mr. R. Coulter, Mayor of Te Aroh-i. said he wished to know whether the Thames people desired the board to g » any further with the work, failing Government assistance. The chairman. Mr. 11. Low., referred to the recent visit of the Pox t Waikato and the experience that vessel had had. When trying to get out after unloading sue had stuck in the mud for two days. It was a deplorable state of affairs and something should be done. With regard to Government assist ance, he continued, - the officials had sent an adverse report. There were only two alternatives. One was to lex the whole thing go. and all the monev spent, £66,000, be wasted, or endea-v our to raise more monev to finish the scheme. Mx\ Edwards (Pacroa) said £ 66,00 a had already been spent and if the board did nothing that money woufii be wasted. Personally he had doubts as to the present scheme ever acting successfully, but he understood then were many people in Thames who thought it would, and were very keen to see it carried out Mr. Donovan (Thames Borough) said the completion of the scheme was the duty of the board. "When a deputation waited on the council for th • request to raise the extra £6,000 it had been stated this would be sufli cient to complete the scheme. Mr. Kennedy (Piako County) said the trouble was not the responsibility of the board, which had undertaken to carry out the scheme it Thames found the money.

Mr. C. W. Harris (Hauraki Plains) said the position was nothing short o', a catastrophe. The ratepayers had provided £66.000 and got nothing for it. The board had acted all along on the advice of its engineer, ami had done its best. The board should cooperate with the ratepayers and urn.the Government to give assistance. It was decided that the board should make further representations to tlnMinister of Marine for further assistance toward the completion of the scheme and that the board should invite the co-operation of the Thames Borough Council, tlie Thames Chamber of Commerce and the individual co-operation of every member of the Thames Harbour Improvement Scheme Delegation.