TRADE OF PORT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20178, 5 March 1931, Page 14

TRADE OF PORT.

looking to future. HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION. Declaring that the Lyttelton Harbour Board should look to the future and be ready for an increase in trade whenever it came, Mr H. M. Chrystall it yesterday's meeting of the Board brought forward a motion to the effect, that the engineer should be instructed to prepare a programme on the lines suggested. All interesting discussion took place before the motion was defeated. Mr H. M. Chrystall said that it was time that the Board laid down a scheme for the future development of the port, and ho moved: "That the engineer be instructed to prepare a programme incorporating possible suggestions for the expansion of the facilities in Lyttelton harbour to prepare for increased trade in the future." This was seconded by Mr W.'T. Lester. Duty of Board. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., expressed the opinion that it was the duty of tho Board to tell tho engineer what is required. Let the Board itself lay down a policy and not leave such work to the engineer, so that he would have to receive any kicks that it might provoke. Mr Chrystall; I do not suggest that the engineer should lay down the policy of tho Board, but that he should simply prepare a plan. Captain H. Monro said that he could not see any need for such a motion. The harbour was adequate for all tho trade likely to be done for many years • to eome. V Mr Lester stated that he was behind Mr Chrystall's views. The Board should have some definite policy in regard to improving the harbour. Previous Boards had looked ahead, but in spite of their endeavours there was no doubt that the old dock had outlived ita usefulness. There were many questions which might be considered by the present Board, such aB, for instance, should there fee a floating dock in the port? \ Port Defended. The chairman (Mr H. T; Armstrong, M.P.) deprecated, any suggestion that the Port was badly out of date. To hear Sine people talk, he said, it might beought that Lyttelton was 100. years behind the times. Jt 'was a fact that thtf Port had only railway wharves, -but that could not be helped. He a tad recently been' oft a -visit to Australia he cottJ4 assure. that with the exception and Wei--Br®»ajns 2 ,'2a