NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 129, 22 May 1908, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BILL

UK. MAKX AT JiLTilAil.

A large number of ratepayers attended a public meeting held in' the Athenaeum Hall, Milium, on Wednesday night, convened by .Mr. Marx, representative of the Hawera AVard 011 the .New Plymouth Harbor Board, for the purpose of ascertaining as far as possible the wishes of the ratepayers as to whether he should oppose the new loan proposals or not. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. T. C. Ktanners) presided, ilr. Jlarx stated thai recently a Bill had been brought forward by the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and had been ! recommended to the ratepayers by Messrs Maxwell and McLean He (Mr Marx) had been returned pledged to a non-borrowing policy, whilst the meeting which Messrs Maxwell and McLean held had declared in favour of the Bill. 'Die position was, therefore, somewhat Unique. Proceeding to outline the proposals he said that some thirty years ago a loan of ;C200,(XI() had been raised by the Harbor Board. This amount will full due next May. In the early day*, a sinking fund was provided for, but had only bwn partially raised, and only .t(i(l,(H)() had been set aside to meet, the The promoters of the present

Bill wished to make further Harbor improvements, as well as to repay the old loan. When Messrs. Maxwell and McLean presented the proposals originally 110 provision was made in the Bill for a sinking fund. One had since been provided. lie thought there was an element of injustice in the Bill. Last year the Wailara Harbor Bill was pass ed, enabling those in the Waitara Har bor District to escape any further lb

ability on Xew Plymouth harbor loans. The Opunake town was also exempted. Further than this, there was a clause in the Bill which also exempted them from all future liability on the existing loan. This was an injustice to those in his district. Although the rate liability for the southern portion of the province under the new loan would only be %A, be thought it unjust that they should be tailed upon to pay that amount when the Waitara people were exempt. Continuing, he said he considered that an up-to-date dredge was necjssary for the harbor, and if the harbor was deepened somewhat lie thought a much less pretentious scheme would meet the of the district, lie suggested that if they expended, say, £BO,OOO that would meet their needs for many years to come. There was not the trade lo warrant the assumption that large ocean-going boats would berth at -New Plymouth, even if (he harbor facilities would allow. Mr. .Marx 6 aid the Board member for Clifton voted lor the Bill, when his portion of the rating area was already exempted by the Waitara Bill. This, to his mind, was an extraordinary position for a representative, to take up. He, contended that Waitara and 'Paten combined were doing as much shipping as Jiew Plymouth, and these two ports had not l>eeii "spoon-fed 1 ' as New Plymouth had been. In concluding, he said it would be for the meeting to say whether the Bill should be opposed or not. He would be pleased to answer any question. In reply to Mr John Carter, Mr Marx sail that' before hi rt election he had said it might be necessary to borrow a certain amount for improvements. He thought the llawera Ward_should be exempted from all further liability for borrowing purposes. Mi'. J. llayward said he should like to 'hear Mr Maxwell's views on tiiu Bill, if Mr. .Marx had no objection. Mr. Jlarx said he offered no objection to Mr. Maxwell speaking.

Mr Maxwell said ho had been at a loss to understand Jlr Marx's attitude in regard to the Bill, so came to this meeting to learn. Everything that he (the speaker) thought wa ri to the advantage of the ratepayers was embodied in the Bill, lie had served the ratepayers for fifteen years and hail thought out the matter.' lie had come to the conclusion that Mr. Marx did not understand thu Bill, otherwise he would not have opposed it. At the meeting held by the speaker and Jlr. McLean, Mr. Marx had told him (Mr. Maxwell) that if the meeting supported the Bill lie (Mr. Marx) would not oppose it. In the speaker's opinion it was perfectly elear that the Haw era Ward would be a great deal better oft' under the preferential rating under the new' Bill. When he and Jlr. Marx fought the old Bill before the House, they had stated that if the Xew Plymouth people brought down a fair Bill the southern people would support them. He contended this wae a fair Bill. Tin l upset rentals on the Board's leases which had now fallen ill were worth .tjannually on pre-

sent A minimum of CI,Too of [ he Board's revenue was ;iNo earmarked to pay interest charges under tlio now proposals. lie considered that the Vs ' ill the ,€ rate would never lie struck in this district, lie thought Hint 1 -4(Jd would lie nearer the mark. Under the existing Hill the Tlawera Ward was liable for ,C 1,000, on a level rate, whereas under the new Bill they would only have to ]ia,v one-third of £1,400 even if it were collected, 110 contended that under the Bill the revenue of the Board would lie sufficient to enable them to carry 011 business for ten year ri without having to call up a rate. Mr. Marx, in replying, said he admitted he had not the Harbor Board experience tliat Mr. Maxwell had, lint lie claimed the right to differ in his opinions from Mr. Maxwell. lie did not think the Bill would bring in all the good things that Mr. Maxwell anticipated.

Mr. Maxwell combatted Mr. Marx's insinuation that the member for Clifton had 110 right to vote for the Bill seeing that his territory .was exempt. Mr. Hine had worked distinctly for these terms before the passage of the Waitara Bill. After doing this, Mr. Ifine had every right to support the Bill. .Mr. J. M. Murray moved: "That this meeting instructs Mr. Marx to vote for the Bill." Mr. ff. P. Wake seconded. Mr. Ki'yday moved: "That Mr. Mare should use his own discretion, and that he be given a free hand in the matter,"

iff. W. J. Campbell seconded. Mr, Marx said lie desired the meeting to direct him in the matter; lie did not wish to hare a free hand. Mr. Murray's resolution was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks'was accorded to Mr. Max. '