WHAKATANE HANDLED MOST TONNAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 16, 6 November 1950, Page 4

WHAKATANE HANDLED MOST TONNAGE

“The Whakatane Harobur until this year handled the largest tonnage of cargo of any of the Bay of Plenty ports. For several years the cargo tonnage handled at Whakatane was greater than the tonnage handled by Opotiki and Tauranga combined. Recent timber and South Island freighting from -and to Tauranga has altered this position,” said the secretary of the Whakatane Harbour Board, Mr C. G. Lucas, at the Port Inquiry. “The Whakatane harbour rate was for several years lad in the £ on the unimproved value but is now |d in the £. Had it not been for the diversion of the Rangitaiki River there would have been no need for extensive harbour capital works at Whakatane. Previous to the drainage development of the Rangitaiki swamp half the Rangitaiki River found its way to the sea Via the Whakatane River mouth. An amount equivalent to the present |d harbour rate is used for port and reclamation development.

“Mr Entrican in a broadcast in September 1948 estimated State plantation exotic timber output of 140,000,000 super feet. Until this broadcast Whakatane Harbour Board did not appreciate the volume of timber and timber products available from the State Forests and it was at this stage that the Board commenced its investigations as to the feasibility and practicability of establishing an overseas port at Whakatane. “It is claimed that freezing works will ultimately be required for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua-Taupo district. On the basis of the statistics submitted it is estimated tha over 14,200 tons of meat is exported from the above district at the present time, viz. pig meat 3,000 tons, sheep and lambs at 371bs each on basis of 300,000 head—sooo tons, bobby calves 100,000 head at 50 1b5—2,200 tons, culls and beef cattle 3,000 head at 3001b5—4,000 tons —total 14,200 tons. “It is claimed that with aerial topdressing there will be a large increase in the use of fertiliser in the district and this combined with Lands and Survey Department land development will give, within a matter of years, an economic tonnage for a fertiliser works. The Lands and Survey Department in the district last year used approximately 14,000 tons of artificial manures, and it is claimed the total annual fertiliser tonnage is over 55,000 tons.”