OPOTIKI CHAMBER SUPPORTS PORT AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 70, 30 November 1949, Page 5

OPOTIKI CHAMBER SUPPORTS PORT AT WHAKATANE

The Opotiki Chamber of Commerce has decided to support the scheme for a deep ' water harbour at Whakatane. This was decided at a meeting last week when the present trade through the Whakatane port was studied by the Chamber and the two port schemes for the Bay of Plenty, Whakatane and Tauranga, were compared. The Chamber was first impressed by the fact that Whakatane at present handles more cargo than the Opotiki and Tauranga ports combined and appears now the main outlet and distribution centre for the eastern Bay of Plenty. The figures produced to cofiflrm this were those recording the total manifest tonnage for the year ended September 31, 1949, for all Bay of Plenty ports. These were:— Tauranga 18,344 Whakatane 35,078 Opotiki 11,932

It was also pointed out that Whakatane at present handles more goods by rail traffic than the TeTauranga area.

Timber Other

sup. ft. Goods Whakatane ' 13,346,400 107,651 Te Fuke-

Tauranga 8,569,800 65,807 The Tauranga figures include three trial shipments per “James Cooks.” The Whakatane figures are from Taneatua and Edgecumbe railway stations. The report prepared by Mr C. H. Brebner, consulting engineer to the Whakatane Harbour Board and originator of the scheme, and supported by Mr A. E. Shaw, civil engineer to the Whakatane Board Mill, was also studied. As a result of the discussion the Opotiki Chamber has offered its support to the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce and has enquired in what direction it can lend its assistance.