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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 67

Wanganui Harbor Bating Bill

Wanganui Harbor Bating Bill.

On the question of the Harbour Bill Mr Ballance gave at length the history of last session's Bill, and quoted from Mr Bryce's speech to show his inconsistency in speaking against the Bill after he had agreed to withdraw all active opposition. With respect to the inclusion of Rangitikei Mr Ballance said he occupied an extraordinary position. He deprecated the introduction of Rangitikei, but was told that it was necessary to include Rangitikei and so do away with local opposition. He introduced the bill as it was prepared [unclear: by] Harbour Board and it parsed its [unclear: sece] reading. Mr Bruce presented a petition [unclear: fr] his own constituents against the bill, [unclear: sting] that they would never use the [unclear: port] Wanganui, and that it was injustice [unclear: to] them for harbour improvements. [unclear: He] between two fires; the [unclear: member] Rangitikei said his constituents [unclear: did] use the port of Wanganui, and the [unclear: mem] for Waitotara said the Harbour [unclear: Board] bankrupt and the expenditure [unclear: in] opinion would not be productive [unclear: of] result. That portion of the bill [unclear: relat] to Rangitikei was thrown out, [unclear: and] could not carry on the bill without [unclear: Ratikei] on account of a compact made between the Harbour Board and the [unclear: l] land holders. What puzzled [unclear: him] this :—Why if the expenditure was [unclear: to] no good, and the Board was [unclear: bankr] should those opposed to the bill [unclear: w] to draw Rangitikei into the [unclear: m] strom? Why saddle Rangitikei [unclear: w] works that were valueless? He [unclear: came] the conclusion, whether it was [unclear: justifi] or not, that these gentlemen were [unclear: oppo] to the Bill, and that Rangitikei [unclear: was] into the Bill to kill it. He believed [unclear: thr] Rangitikei was included in any [unclear: bill,] bill would be lost, and they were [unclear: on] horns of a dilemma. Were they [unclear: to] the Bill with Rangitikei or without [unclear: it?] without Rangitikei, the Bill [unclear: would] killed, and with Rangitikei it would killed to a dead certainty. He was [unclear: will] to do the best he could; it was [unclear: for] people here to settle the matter for [unclear: th] selves, and he did not know that he [unclear: co] say anything further upon it.