HARBOR BOARD BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 76, 19 March 1908, Page 4

HARBOR BOARD BILL.

MEETLNU AT STRATFORD. The old Masonic Hall was crowded ] on Monday evening (the Post reports) when Mr. Newton King and Mr. James Thomson gave addresses on the Harbour Hoard's Hill. Mr. P. F. Kalfe, Mayor or Stratford, presided, and in introducing the speakers said that some members had been elected to the Board pledged to oppose dirt her borrowing. Mr. Thomson was one of those, and he now came before them to ascertain the leeling as regards the present proposals brought forward by Mr. Newton King. He asked for both speakers a fair hearI "' g '

'Mr. Thomson and Mr. King then addressed the meeting on the lines of their speeches previously reported. At the conclusion the chairman asked for questions. Mr. W. 11. MaUme. asked if Mr. King could give Die figures showing the port' 3 profits for. say, the last ten years. Mr. King read the following from tho balance-sheet:-- IS'.)B, profits £5,029; 180!), £0.081; 1900, £0,530; 1001, £0,938; liNti. £7.010; 11)03, XB.WI; 10U4, £0,444; 1005, £0,003; 1900, £11,859; 1907, £13,013. For the first three months of the present year the profits had exceeded all expectations, he might add. Mr. Thomson said that if, according to Mr. King, only £77.000 was required, they could complete the harbour in ten. years out of revenue. I' Mr. King—Hut not without a rate. I Mr. Thomson contended that Mr.

King's laud fund figures made his posi- | tion better. If they let the Bill go to . the House in these Socialistic days they ' did not know what might happen. It 1 might be s* ; d he was too slow. He re- ', ferred to i roinsies made twenty-two years ago i * good faith but not kept. ' They would be safer to go as they were: ' to go canny, but to go surely. But he ; was in their hands and he would leave ? it to themselves. If they told him to vole for the Bill lie would do so. (Ap- ] plause.) ' Replying to Mr. W. E. Porter's query L> as to 'why, instead of dredging, the ' breakwater was not opened up to let 9 nature do the work, Mr. King read Mr. 1 Napier Hell's report, and explained the ;1 northerly drift. The Board's experi-

ence was that this drift did not and would not''increase, but would still remain, the sand following the wall if the breakwater were carried on to Auckland. Mr. Neltleton asked, if the revenue were so .buoyant, was it necessary to trouble Stratford at all to pledge itself for the loan? Mr. King again explained that it was necessary to give security to the bondholders. He quite admitted that promises had been made twenty-two years ago which had not been fulfilled. But the present Board could hardly be held responsible for what happened then, and they liad to remember that the conditions had altered a good deal. Mr. Cuthberl thought there was no need for New 'Plymouth breakwater at all. Why not run night trains to Wellington with their produce? Mr. King said the night train carriage of produce had been tried by the Government and given up. It had not been a success, and never could be as opposed to water carriage tit their own doors. Mr. Cuthberl remarked tliat night trains worked all right in London. In reply to Mr. A. W. McCiitchan, Mr. King said it might be possible that in one year the find revenue would greatly increase beyond the sum now estimated, and might diminish in perhaps the next year by the change of title. In one year they might even get : £30,000 from this source. This surplus , would go into a special fund to provide ■ for the purpose for which it was pledgf ed.

In reply to the same questioner Mr. King explained that the Board obtained the full 20 per cent, of the Crown leasehold rentals. Mr McCutchan expessed the view that a sinking fund was absolutely necessary, as otherwise they were pledged to further borrowing. Mr. King said if the meeting passed a resolution favouring a sinking fund he would do his best to have such a provision included in the Bill. Mr. .(. Smith said without a sinking fuud there was no finality of the thing. He endorsed Mr. McCutchan's view. Mr. MeCutehan said he wanted to be quite clear. Was it proposed that Waitara be excluded from all liability! Mr. King—Yes. In reply to Mr. X. B. Fryday, Mr. King said the Board would still get the 2o per cent, of the land fund in tlw whole of the Waitara district. In reply to Mr. J. Sexton, Mr. King said that if the money was not available at 4 per cent, the Board would not borrow. No sane man or body of men would borrow at 5 per cent, for thirty years. The margin was only to meet possibilities, as h e had already fully explained. He did not think there would lie the least difficulty in raising the sum they wanted at 4 per cent. In reply to Mr. Porter, Mr. King said that the sandbank was u solid one—not a slotting one. Mr. Thomson endorsed this statement. Mr, Sexton asked if Sir James Mills had not said they would never get a deep-sea ship into New Plymouth harbour';

Mr. King said he had never heard so and he did not think it at all likely that one of the best business men in Ihe Dominion, as the Managing Director ol the Union Steam Ship Company undoubtedly was, would say snob a tiling. They had the example of Timarti before them. After some further unimportant questions M. K. AlcK. Morison, moved: "That this meeting desires to release Mr. Jas. ihomson from his very definite pledge and give him a free hand to vote on this Bill." He believed that it was in the best interests of the district that they should do this. Mr. J. Smith seconded.

■Mr. Morison said lie would, with, his Meander's permission, add to his motion that Mr. Thomson be requested to support Mr. King's Bill. Mr. H. N. Liardet objected to this direction from New Plymouth. Mr. Morison said he would not press the point. He thought they were safe m Mr. Thomson's hands, as the feeling of the meeting was apparent. Mr. Cuthbert moved as an amendment: "That this meeting recommend the Government to take over the New Plymouth breakwater." The Government, he said, eould run anything. •A Voice—Take you over and run you! 'Mr. Cuthbert was not taken seriously and his amendment failed to find a seconder.

The motion was then put aud declared carried on the voices.

'Mr. H. N. Liardet moved hearty votes of thanks to Mr. Newton King and .Mr. ■lames Thompson for their addresses.

I Mr. A. W. McOutehan seconded. In ' doing so he said that many settlers—and especially old settlers—had strong ■ prejudices, but they recognised the great advantages of being able to accommodate ocean-going steamers, and many of them were going to keep open minds. Mr. King and Mr. Thomson had both done good work, the former as a progressive and the latter as a useful brake. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, lon Mr. Thomson's motion, concluded the proceedings.