A HARBOR FOR GISBORNE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1920, 1 November 1906, Page 2

A HARBOR FOR GISBORNE

(To the Editor Gisborne Timea, t?iR, —Monday’s caett ag of the Harbor Board was not perhaps so satisfactory as msoy poopls would like. A certain amount of querulous opposition was raised by members of tha Board to the scheme, aud Mr Merchant must have felt that, if the Board had the final dealing with his report and plans in formation beyond the mere fact that he would be paid for the actual woik done, he might a 9 well ba using his talents where be would have a better ohanoe of seeing some result for his work. The ratepayers, however, will be the real arbiters of the question, and if Mr Marchant's sohemo is sound and bat all the reasonable elements of success, they will quickly place the question beyond " any possible shadow of doubt." Mr John Clark, although expressing himself fayor. able to a harbor scheme, gave the keynote to whore a great deal of opposition will come from, his opinion representing | that of tbe equatters and exporters of meat and grain, His contention that it will cost more to tie up a large ship at the wharves than the present system may or may not be right, there being no figures available at present to verify it, but the difference between the cost of lightering and tbe sum mentioned is not sufficient to justify opposition when other advantages are considered. Railage to the ship’s side would bo of intrinsic value to the exporter, meaning less handling and quicker despatch-two items that mean money. The statement said to have emanated from the shipping companies that even if a good, safe harbor with sufficient dra:

was provided, vessels would not avai

themselves of same is a little too thin to be considered If this were so, that vessels would sooner lighter, we would never hear [of their going in anywhere. Of course shipping companies, like other companies object to paying more than they can help, but unless the harbor and wharf dues are exceptionally heavy, they can well afford to pay for the benefit of a safe harbor. One ship driven on shore from the present roadstead would be a loss that would pay such dues for twelve months even between the insurance and value of the vessel, Turning to the Freezing Works here one meets with a legitimate objection, At present all the gear used in handling meat is only suitable for lightering. and extensive alterations to plant would be required for truck loading. Such

expense in my opinion would find a largo amount of compensation in the fact that despatch work could bo carried out at all times and not be dependent on weather or tides. Mr Sievwright said that many peoplo would object to going 1J miles

away for the harbor, No doubt it would be nice to have it at the foot of Gladstone Road, hut Mr Marchant says it eau’t be done. Captain Tucker made a great song about the people who paid the Jeast

making the most noise. Everybody resident in the district will have to carry the burden directly or indirectly, but the man who is taxed heavier than liis neighbor will also benefit to a greater extent, inasmuch as his unearned increment will be correspondingly greater. There is no doubt that Gisborne with a good harbor would be a thousand times better oil in every way than a Gisborne with a river of mud. from all points of view The only thing the taxpayers want to keep their eye on is if they adopt Mr Marehant’s scheme that they see that they get that scheme, and that t-lio ±300,000 is not wasted.— Yours, etc,, VIATOR.

,(To the Editor Gisborne Times.; 1 Hir, Whilo cordially agreeing with your article ou the harbor, I must point oat that figures are not everything in such a matter. Wo must look to the great convenience. There are hundreds who would give a sovereign anytime to be able to land or ship under better conditions than now exist in Gisborne in stormy weather. Let us take Captain Tucker at i bis word, and have “ no probable possible shadow of doubt—no shadow of doubt whatever " about the matter,—l am, etc,, I taxpayer*