HARBOUR EMPOWERING BILL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13524, 4 November 1911, Page 7

HARBOUR EMPOWERING BILL

A LIVELY DISCUSSION. CHARGES AND COUNTER-CHARGES Plans for ths Future. The Harbour Hoard's Empowering- Bill, which recently failed to pass its third reading, was the subject of a lengthy and at times lively, discussion at the monthly meeting of the Board last evening. The CHAIRMAN (Mr J. B. Murray) in reporting the fate of the Bill, said it was not worth while to travel over old ground. Tire Local Bills Committee had heard the evidence, and, by a majority of one, recommended that the Bill bo proceeded with. It was stonewalled on the third reading in the House. A majority of members were ready to pass it if it had not been for the stonewall, but the Bill had been killed, and that, so far, was the end of it. Mr W. RITCHIE said he wished to deny the reports that tire Bill had been stonewalled in the Committee. The stonewall had been out, of Committee. -The Committee had seen, the error of their ways and “agreed with ns” (i.e., the local opi onents of the Bill). Mr W. J. POLSON disagreed with the Chairman's statement that there had been a stonewall in the House. The CHAIRMAN—“It is a matter of opinion, so we will agree to disagree.' 1 Mr RITCHIE—“Except for Mr Lang, all of the Local Bills Committee were Government supporters." Mr A. G . BIG NELL said the thauks of the majority of the lh>vd and of the Bill’s supporters were due to the Chairman for his efforts to further the Bill. It would come up again next session,, when “we will win.” There was no doubt it had been stonewalled, and there was no doubt the stonewall had been organised. and done with the purpose, of keeping the Bill out because Parliament was near the end of the session. One member of the Opposition had been particularly active against tbe Bill, and Mr Biguell hoped he would lose his seat at the election. “I don’t care who the man is,” said Mr Bignell/ “if he doesn’t think more of the interests of Wanganui than that, then he is no good to the town, and deserves to lose his seat."' Mr POLSON characterised Mr Bignell’s concluding remarks as disgraceful. There was no doubt as to the reason for the Bill’s fate, and Wanganui could thank Sir Joseph Ward for it. Sir Joseph Ward advised Mr Hogan to stick to the Bill, and after that the Government members basely deserted Mr Hogan, and went home to bed. 'Die member referred to by Mr Bignell was honestly desirous of doing the best he. could for Wanganui, and only wanted a fair rating area, and by-stand-ing up for that he. bad rendered a service to tbe district. Mr W. G. BASSETT said it was a perfectly legitimate thing to criticise any member of Parliament who, being the chairman of another Harbour Board, did anything inimical to our interests. Some of Mr Pearce’s statements as to the area served bv the Wanganui and Patea ports wore wide of the mark. A bale of wool from Waverley, for instance, could be sent just as cheaply to Wellington via Patea or Wanganui. Butter had been brought from Patea to be shipped out of Wanganui because it could'not be sent out of the Patea port. Mr Pearce had come here and made certain remarks for political purposes, and he (Mr Bassett) was not going to be. silent about it. it was a pity Mr Polsm-was so thin-.skinned. He bad come back here and a newspaper had trodden on his corns, and ho went back to Wellington furious. Mr POLSON —“That is untrue. I never saw the paper till I had got hack to Wellington.” Mr J. C. PATTRSON—“AII this is beside the question. There is no motion before the meeting." Mr BASSETT—“I am discussing the chairman’s report.” Mr POLSON—“You arc discussing me.” Mr W. RITCHIE—“I move that we shut up.” Mr BIGNELL—“Stick to your guns, Mr Bassett!” For a minute or so after this injunction all the members were talking at once, but Mr Bassett, making himself beard again, went on to say that his friends on the other side did not know what chivalry was. They had come back and crowed over their opponents, because the latter were defeated. Mr POLSON—“Who crowed?” Mr BASSETT—“You fellows did, at, the Wanganui County Council meeting, and patted each other on the. back, and said what fine fellows you were.” Mr Bassett referring again to Mr Poison’s auger in Wellington, said he had told Mr Poison that he thought the latter was trying to defeat the Bill, and that some of Mr Poison’s own party had said-he was absorbing too much time. Mr POLSON —“That is not so. No one said so.” Mr BASSETT—“I will remind Mr' Poison Of some things that took plafce in the Committee.” The CHAIRMAN—"You can’t do that.” Mr BASSETT said Mr Poison had stated that the chairman of the Committee (Mr Laurenson) had been converted. Hs would remind Mr Poison that Mr Laurenson had twice spid, “Mr Poison! You have had an undue amount of consideration, and have taken too much time. You must finish -our case to-day, because the Committee is determined to report the Bill.” There was an indication that the chairman thought Mr Poison was taking up too much time. Lfiter on he (Mr Bassett) had suggested to Mr Poison that they should say no more about it. Mr POLSON—“I didn't say anything of the kind to you. I said that to the chairman.” Mr Bassett and Mr Poison argut-cf the point for a space, and Mr .Poison then '■ose in his seat and asked if Mr Bassett suggested that he was not speaking the truth. Mr RITCHIE—“I am of a conciliatory disposition. Mr Laurenson did say to Mr Poison something like what Mr Bassett said, but Mr Poison was doing all tlie talking on one side, and three or four of you on the other, and you did more talking in the aggregate. Mr Laurenson voted against the Bill, and so did Mr Buxton as soon as lie saw the proposed rating area.” Mr POLSON—"I was as anxious to finish soon as anybody, but Mr Bassett omits to mention the great deal of time he took over his own ludicrous cross-examination on land values.” Mr Bassett then rose to speak again. It was pointed out that he had already spoken, but be persisted, saying. Messrs Poison and Ritchie had interrupted him. Mr MACKAY—“You are all forgetting one thing.” Mr BASSETT—“When, we left Wellington, I said I was willing to drop this question of stone-walling, as both sides had had a good show, and Mr Poison acquiesced. Then, when he, found someone had said something about him, he wired to Wellington, and bad the matter ovouglif up in the House. I think the whole tiling was an absolute farce so far as the attendance of the Local Bills Committee was concerned.” The CHAIRMAN—“Yon have no right to publicly discuss the attendance of the Committee.”' , “Mr C. E. MACKAY supposed they were all agreed on one thing, that the Bill,

■though lost last session, would not be lost aext session. The first cause of the Bill’s; fate was that they were late in the field, •vlien it did not have a good chance, and they Should take care to be early next session. He could .not see that the rating area was unfair, but if it were it could bp remedied. He suggested that the Board Jiould take steps to have a Commission of inquiry set .up as soon as possible, ii the rating area were extended, it would probably mean that the constitution of the larbour Board would have to be altered, vliich was another'reason for being early. They should. ask the Government to set ip tho - Commission as soon as possible, md when it reported they could introduce t new Bill. Whether the country members vould accept this he did not know-, but lie ■bought it a J’air proposal, and they could ■ negotiate with the country districts, to ome to an understanding. Mr Mackay then moved, “That a legislative committee be set up, to include the chairman, Messrs Bassett, Poison, Bignell, and the mover.” Mi- RITCHIE—“I ought to be one of t also. There is only one country member, an it, and I represent. Waitotara County, which you don’t include. Mr MACKAY agreed to include Mr Ritchie’s name on the committee, which ■would make all necessary arrangements for tlie re-introduction of the Bill next session. Mr POLSON, in seconding the motion, thought it desirable to do what Mr' Based, t had suggested some weeks ago, and 1 avo a conference with the counties, when, , erhaps, a modus vivendi could be arrived at. He thought it would be bette*o do if first. 'File motion was then put and carried. FUTURE WORKS. Mr BIGNELL, referring to work iu the meantime, said tho .Board had £SOOO on fixed deposit and £3500 on current account, and the net revenue of the Board would be between £4OOO and £SOOO next year. They should adopt some policy for .spending this money. There was plenty of work to do whether a big scheme were gone on with or not. He moved: “That the Engineer be instructed to report to next meeting, showing tho works that can be done with the money available during the- next 12 months, such works to be in the direction of further deepening the channel and bar, and utilising the Board’s plant and staff to the best advantage ” Mr MEULI seconded the motion The CHAIRMAN pointed out that whatever work was dorie must be part of a complete scheme. If the Bill were not going through, they still had good water on the bar, and must deepen the channel to town. If the Bill went , through, they should extend the moles. He thought they should try and get some outside independent advice. Mr POLSON—“Hear, hear!” The CHAIRMAN-—“These matters need consideration, for, however we spend the money, the.,work must be part of a whole scheme which we intend- to follow but afterwards.” , . , , Mr RITCHIE advocated making the channel to town as good as the bar. They should keep the dredge going and utilise ■the plant to the best advantage. That would be fair to tlje town people and cvcvyonj else. ' ‘. 'Hie CHAIRMAN—“The present dredge hj of no use for that. It has .its < Mr RITCHIE—“It will scrape gp a„In), of mud yet.” ■ ■ I ; : Mr • PATERSON said the chairirpui ■ ,was quite right in advising outside /advice, which should be got if they were going in for larger borrowing. It would , allay the feeling in the country if they were sat isfied the money would be well..spent. Mr POLSON—“Hear, hear I” , Mr PATERSON said there was so mncii diversity of opinion between Mr Reynolds and Mr Holmes that there was a suspicion in the country mind. This would be allayed by outside advice, and if that were done there would bo a good, chance, of getting the Bill through next session. He thought thanks -were due to those who had opposed the Bill. Mr RITCHIE:—“This is beside the question. Mt Bignpil’d motion is how to use the money iu hand.” Some discussion ensued as to whether Mr Bignell's motion meant new' work, or only the continuance of old work, Mr Paterson insisting that it should he made clear the latter was meant. Mr BASSETT then explained to members what the motion meant, and said they should hold at least £SOOO in hand to meet emergencies. Mr PATERSON being satisfied on the point raised by him, the motion was then put and carried. A CONFERENCE. Mr POLSON then moved; “That the legislative committee set ’ up bo instructed to approach the County Councils with ,a view to a conference on the question of future harbour works, and arriving at a basis of agreement pn the matters in dispute." Mr MACKAY seconded. Mr MASSEY thought if they were going to confer with the counties they should also call,in the Borough Council, Mr POISON —“I’m agreeable.” Air BASSETT thought a conference unnecessary if they -were going over the whole ground agaih, though he favoured a conference on boundaries. The CHAIRMAN thought the words “future harbour-works” would lead to a lot of talk. They should confine themselves l:o the question of boundaries- of the rating area. Mr POLSON then agreed to include the Borough Council, and to make the conference apply to the rating area. In this form the motion was then put. anti carried. OUTSIDE ADVICE.' 1 Mr PATERSON then gave notice to move at next meeting: “That the Board obtain the services of an eminent and fully qualified, outside, igdeyendent engineer, to . report on the? harbour works.” The Board then adjourned till noon today. '