PUBLIC OPINION

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1940, Page 8

PUBLIC OPINION

(To the Editor.)

S. VICKERS.

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS

HARBOUR MERCER PLAN

Sir,— Some little comment by way of explanation with regard to the reported remarks of Mr. J. P. Hughson, Mayor of Waitara, appear to be necessary. In the first place I would suggest that with the possible exception of Mr. Hughson any of those present at the conference with the Minister will at least give me credit for having made strenuous efforts to reach a compromise on the one aspect of the merger upon which all parties are not agreed. To this end ftie coun. ties' representatives were prepared, and did offer to make considerable concessions at the conference referred to, but remained adamant on the major issue, namely, that the endowment reserves should be transferred from the Waitara Harbour Board on the dissolving of that board, to the New Plymouth Harbour Board. This is obviously a reasor.able proposition, and only bare justice to the whole of the ratepayers of the harbour districts concerned, and requires no further comment. The contention of the borough representatives that these endowments should be transferred to that body is, we consider, quite without justification, as it entirely disregards the claims of the other constituent parts of the Waitara harbour district. Let me stress again the fact that these endowments were not vested in the Waitara Harbour Board for the benefit of the town of Waitara but for harbour purposes. The harbour for the Waitara harbour district is now at New Plymouth, and consequently these endowments should logically be transferred to the New Plymouth Harbour Board. It is, however, inconceivable that the Waitara Borough Council would refuse either of the proposals submitted by the Minister, both of which set the seal on the vesting in the borough of these endowments and the revenues therefrom. In other words the borough was being made a gift of considerable revenues at the expense of the other parts of the Waitara harbour district, and, indeed, of the New Plymouth harbour district which is providing harbour facilities for the Waitara district. I can only say with regard to the honouring of a promise that I regard it as necessary that a promise made to the counties' representatives, that no small minority would be permitted to interfere with the progrpss of the district, should also have been kept. The capital value which the Waitara borough bears to the Waitara harbour district is 18 per cent. In conclusion I appreciate the efforts of the Mayor of Waitara to get the best deal possible for the borough, but I do suggest that he should also appreciate what is a fair deal and what is not. Because of- his apparent inability to appreciate this I am able to assess at their true value his appeals to the county representatives to accept the Minister's

proposals.— I am etc.,