THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1921. THE HARBOUR REPORT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4355, 14 December 1921, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1921. THE HARBOUR REPORT.

Auckland, to judge by a subleader that appeared in the Herald” a few days ago, is not at all enamoured of the report of the Thames Harbour , Commis - sion. From the “Herald s” article it is fairly obvious the city does not favour the development of a harbour which may take a little of the trade away from Auckland. The journal is on weak ground when it censures the Commission for taking the practicability of the Thames Harbour Improvement Scheme' for granted. In the first place, the order of reference instructed the Commission to fix the boundaries o,f the district and to define the allocations and representation it had no authority to inquire into the engineering aspects of the scheme; a little thought would have convinced the “Herald” that if the Government intended the Commission to delve into engineering problems it would have included engineers in the personnel, one of whom would need to have been of at least equal standing with Mr Blair Mason. The Commission went beyond its order of reference to take what engineering evidence it did hear. To be sure, the success of the scheme depends upon its practicability, but since the opposing parties did not employ any engineering experts whatever, it must be assumed that they were satisfied with this aspect. It is a good rule in warfare to do that which your enemy does not want you to do, and it is apparent that, notwithstanding the “Herald’s” sly and overt jibes, Auckland is mok than a little bit afraid that the Thames Harbour Improvement Scheme is going to be a success. The rating allocations are on the whole very fair, although it is quite probable that

Morrinsville Borough and Matamata Town District will fight further over one-sixteenth of a penny rate. Morrinsville has its own dreams of centrality, and will, with Matamata, oppose any scheme that might possibly draw a concentration of trade down this way. Paeroa has little to complain about, although the fact that the local rivers are of primary importance must not be lost sight of. In any case, a poll must be carried before money can be raised. The representation is also equitable, except, perhaps, for Thames County, seeing that Hauraki Plains may be able to elect the two representatives for its oWn and the Thames County. We cannot, however, hold with the inference made in the “Thames Star” that no rate whatever is likely to be collected ; we think that this is a dangerous view to take, even if the ultimate experience happens to justify the assumption. It is far better business to assume that a rate will be collected for, say, a couple of years, and that afterwards the Harbour will be selfsupporting. However, the district now included in the rating area is so large and wealthy that none will have to bear an inordinately heavy burden, and if Mr Blair Mason’s reputation, which he has staked on his finding, stands the test, then the result will be to the great gain of the Thames Valley, the Hauraki Plains, and . the Goldfields districts.