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Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1920, Page 2

One of the matters specially and enthusiastically urged on the Canterbury delegation in the south last week, was the improvement of the Okarito harbor. That the people are in earnest in this matter was demonstrated by the the fact that they are prepared to rate thomseves for the money necessary (o* c arry out an effective scheme. However there is so much Crown lands, scenic reserves, and national Endowment areas in any area which might be defined as a harbor district, that it would be quite unfair to saddle the whole charge for harbor improve- •

| mcnt on the settlers of the district. The I Government in point of fact should bear the larger share and in any negotiations which are opened this liability should he pressed upon the Crown. The Government has various reports from marine engineers as to what is considered necessary to improve the port of Okarito, and the advisers should have no difficulty in determining the scope and cost of the scheme to bo undertaken. The people are entitled to thh information and guidance in promoting their local proposals to create a harbor district and tho information will be a lead for them to act on when settling about proposals to finance their share , of the improvement scheme. The local Committee has collected information ns . to the volume of traffic likely to pass | over the Okarito bar, if shipping were readily available.- 'Lbis information "s to be put into concrete form, and sup- ] plied to the Canterbury Progress Lea- . gue, and if that influential body, which ; has a backing of some thirteen mem- 1 hers of Parliament can be convinced of the commercial value of the proposition, the undertaking should be. as good as accomplished. The residents of tho south from Mt. Hercules to Weheka are penalised heavily of necessity by overland transport charges. The saving in freight which a well defined entrance to the port of Okarito, would result- in, as against overland charges would pay the harbor rates many times over, and the convenience of a harbor would be a good business proposition for them. But with a workable port at all times, the exports from Okarito would increase enormously. Stock at present has to be driven overland, the journey taking several days, and the condition of the stock necessarily is affected. With a steamer service, the stock -could be taken to the nearest markets in a few hours without suffering any deterioration. The timber trade would develope rapidly at Okarito if ready transport were available. From the Wataroa- to me Wailio there is a great area of forest country available for sea carriage. Okarito is the key to a fine stretch of country capable of great industrial as well as pastoral development, and the improvement of the port is the first essential lending up to the pronounced development spoken of. This question of a good harbour at Okarito is one of the essentials for the opening up of an important section of South Westland, and once provided it will tend to bring a very promising district into its own.