The Question For Decision On Harbours

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 18, 10 November 1950, Page 5

The Question For Decision On Harbours

“The question for decision between the two main contending parties was whether a natural harbour created by the Almighty in three days, and I say this with due reverence—is to be supplanted by one created by Mr H. Vickerman in two days,” said Mr H. O. Cooney, senior counsel for the Tauranga local bodies, when opening Tauranga’s case before the Bay of Plenty Harbour Inquiry Committee which finished its hearing on Wednesday. Tauranga interests claimed, he said, that any policy of harbour development anywhere in New Zealand should be rock-based on proven and established industries, and should be capable of catering for any new venture. “Tauranga’s case,” he said, will fit into that definition.” “Tauranga was an established port, serving an established district. It claimed that any industrial development should be carried out progressively as the needs of the community required. The town was already catering for the new timber trade with Australia. “Over 30 years ago,” continued counsel, “a similar scheme was propounded for Whakatane, and yet the Whakatane authorities appear before this committee and say “Give us about two years to investigate the possibility of a deep-sea harbour at Whakatane.’ ” There had been no testimony submitted to warrant a decision in favour of Whakatane, Mr Cooney submitted. Tauranga would produce evidence to show that numerbus natural harbours had been progressively developed successfully to provide ports of first class capacity If it should be proven that the proposed Whakatane site was, in fact, rock-based, it would be necessary to cut out the proposed harbour from 'strata similar to Kohi Point. Tauranga witnesses were confident of producing definite evidence that Tauranga harbour could be developed to cater for the Bay of Plenty. Evidence was then presented by Mr L. R. Wilkinson, Mayor of Taurange and by Mr H. B. Capamagian, chairman of the Tauranga County Council. Other witnesses .heard were Messrs V. C. Florey, chairman of the Rotorua County Council, P. A. Kusabs, a former Mayor of Rotorua, as chairman of the Rotorua Geo-thermal Committee, H. C. Campbell, A. P. Lindsay and W. E. Hodges, acting-commercial manager of N.Z. Railways.