WAIROA HARBOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 4

WAIROA HARBOUR

APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT. *

Some months ago, on the occasiou of a big flood in the river, the Wairoa Harbour works went out to sea. It has been stated by responsible Ministers tlmt the local authority was not free from blame hi the matter, in that it had not carried out to the letter the instructions of the Public Works engineers. Wairoa needs a harbour ana a deputation waited on Ministers yesterday to discuss the future of the port with them. The deputation, which consisted of members of the wairoa' Harbour Board, was supported by. Mr. M. Myers, who.appeared as;representing the member for the district, Sir Jonn Findlay, who is indisposed. Tho Ministers present were Sir William Fraser (Public Works), the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Marine), the Hon. A. M. Myers (Finance) and the Hon. W. D. S. Mao Donald (formerly member representing this'part of the country). . Tlie proposal made by the deputation was that the harbour should be at Waikokupu, and that a railway should be built over the twenty-four miles separating Wairoa from this natural harbour. The present condition' of the Wairoa Harbour works was also CisSir William Fraser and the other Ministers informed the deputation that the matter wis one on which .Cabinet would have to make the decision, rod that it would be brought before Cabinet in due course. . ... ~ The same deputation waited on tlio Minister of Marine to discuss with luni the state of the Wairoa Harbour works and the position of the board in relation to tlie matter.' The board urged Mr Wilford to visit the locality befo.'o the meeting of Parliament if poaßib e,. in order that, in the' event of legislation being promoted by tlie board, no might appreciate the ' requests that would bo set out in the legislation. The Minister said .that the matqpr was one which would.liavo to be decided by Cabinet, and that no such decision would bo given until a definite schema had been submitted. He promised to visit the place if possible.