Could This Port Handle State Forestry Development Trade?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 35, 6 April 1948, Page 5

Could This Port Handle State Forestry Development Trade?

When the Whakatane Harbour Board’s meeting on Friday discussed the possibility of expanding this port into one capable of handling the output of the Government forestry products scheme, the engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner, told members that in his opinion the harbour could be greatly improved, but at a cost the Board could not stand. However he said he understood that if the Government considered the port could be made suitable for its purposes, the cost would become a matter for the State.

The Commissioner of Works had asked for information and Mr Brebner’s opinion to help in weighing up the possibilities, and the Board authorised the engineer to accede to the request. The chairman, Mr W. R. Boon, said the Board should be quite prepared to give the Ministry of Works any information it required to help the authorities to decide whether or not this port could be made suitable to use for shipping out forestry products. If it were found that it could be made so, there was a possibility of considerable help to the district. So far as the Board itself was ■concerned, it could not undertake any such expensive scheme. Its main job was to provide the best possible facilities to keep coastal shipping going. From a layman’s point of view, there would seem to be something in the idea of shipping direct from here as against railing to Tauranga, and, when the ■Government weighed the matter up as a business proposition, the deciding factor would probably be whether it was going to be cheaper in the long run to improve this port or stand a permanent railing cost.

Harbour Board. In the circumstances I cannot agree to the introduction of special legislation to facilitate such a lease, and in arriving at this decision cognisance has been taken of the fact that tearooms are already located nearby and that in the town of Whakatane there are adequate facilities in the existing halls for dances and like functions.” The chairman pointed out that practically every type of business one could mention was already on Harbour Board property, so he did not see the Minister was right in saying a lease for that purpose was outside the functions of the Board. Some of the statements were definitely contrary to fact.

Other members commented that the legal aspect question could be fixed, and it was then resolved to tell the Minister the two statements on which his letter was based were contrary to fact and to ask him to re-consider.