WAIRARAPA INTEREST

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 4

WAIRARAPA INTEREST

Hutt Harbour Inquiry Dominion Special Service. MASTERTON, May 17. A proposal by the Masterton County Council that local bodies in the Wairarapa who form part of the Wellington harbour district should hold a conference with a view to presenting evidence to the commission appointed to inquire into possible harbour developments at the mouth of the Hutt River, was supported by the Masterton Borough Council last night. - Stating that the Masterton County proposal was an excellent one, the mayor, Mr. T. Jordan, pointed out that there were 40 harbour boards in this country for 1.500,000 people. It might be of interest to primary producers to know that freight charges between New Zealand and Great Britain were based on the presumption that ships called at wayside ports, which of course made for high costs. It extended the time taken in the turn-about of freighters to 45 days in the round trip. There was £20.000,000 tied up in harbour works in New Zealand. Cr. W. Kemp: Half of it wasted. Mr. Jordan said the position indicated was a stranglehold on ratepayers. He moved that the borough should act in conjunction with the counties in preparing district representations to be made to the commission when it sat. • Seconding the motion, Cr. G. W. Morice said a problem had arisen at the Hutt, and he saw no harm in having the inquiry made. He agreed that small harbours round New Zealand were a terrible waste of money.