Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1903.

Manawatu Herald, 7 July 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1903.

Our t’eaport.

It is most gratifying to find that our inland neighbours are awakening to the fact that our port should be the harbour for the whole of the Manawatu district, as the Manawatu Daily Times points out: —“ A strange dilatoriness on the part of Palmerston people and the pathetic . narrowmindedness of the inhabitants of Poxton conspires year by year to retard the progress of both places in a most regrettable way. The merchants and traders of the Manawatu and surrounding districts pay exorbitant freight rates on the railways for their -goods (and levy an additional I tax on the consumers in the way of enhanced prices to make up the difference), and it costs the farmers far more than it should to send their produce to market; yet no one in the community seems to interest himself in the matter sufficiently to ascertain whether by the utilisation <f the seaport lying at our doors we could not cheapen and facilitate trade in all its branches. Our Chamber of Commerce is moribund because there is no force of public opinion behind it, and our Borough Council and Agricultural Association, which are representative local bodies, and the Farmers’ Union which reflects the wishes and ambitions of the farming community, do not seem to realise the potentialities of Poxton as a port. As for the Poxton people themselves Ijhey are content with the day of small things. They cannot imagine any benefit which would accrue to them from the passing of double or treble the present trade over the Poxton wharves and being stored in Poxton stores; they cannot picture to themselves Poxton as a flourishing port. The theory of the leading men in that locality is that important shipping facilities at Poxton would mean increased rates —increased rates for the benefit of Palmerston at the expense of Poxton. That theory has held them back for years, has kept Poxton marking time in the ranks of one horse villages, and unless one or two brainy men come along and appeal to the imagination of the Poxton people, a onehorse village it is likely to remain It is true, that once or twice over a series of years agitations have been started with a view of making Poxton, instead of an apology of a port, really and truly the harbour of the Manawatu ; but the promoters have been men of little grit who have allowed small obstacles and little rebuffs to deter them. Yet every business man knows that people rarely get what they want at the first time of asking. The people who succeed are invariably those who refuse to take “no ” for an answer. ,

The sort of agitation which alone would avail in this case would be a vigorous and sustained one. And yet the difficulties in the way are comparatively small. Seamen who have traded up and down the mouth of the Manawatu River for a long period declare that for vessels up to a certain tonnage it compares favorably with the Wanganui river. A few leading lights for night navigation, an extension of wharf accom-

modation and a little dredging to 1 facilitate the swinging of the vessels, would answer all the requirements at that end. A substantial Government subsidy might reasonably be claimed towards some of these objects. The dredging by reason of the gravel would pay for itself. Then the next thing would be improved and cheaper railway facilities. IT lese would probably be resisted notwithstanding the theory that the railways iri New Zealand are being run less to make profit than to give facilities to the people who own them—but any such resistance must break down underpressure, especially in view of the obvious fact that no concession, but a reasonable compliance With legitimate public requirements, is being invited. At present the people of Palmerston and Poxton are apparently Satisfied With ft crawling and inconvenient passenger service and an eccentric and exorbitant goods delivery. The Railway Department imposes a tariff which is to an extent prohibitive on the Poxton line so as to induce people to have then* goods brought over the roundabout Rimutaka route, and they will continue to do so just so long as the Manftwatu people remain too poor-spirited to resist it. If the latter wake up seme morning to the advantages of “ a pull, and a plill altogether,” this rotten “preferential” system will be torn to shreds, and a new order of things ttsMiuDd. Not only is Palmerston interested in this matter, but the people off bedding, Wdoclville, Dannevirke, i’ahiatua, Levin and Shannon are—if prejudice does not blind them to the fact-equally interested. If Poxton is the natural port of Palmerston, it is also the port of all the places we have indicated, and others besides. Some time ago there was a possibility of freezing works being established at Poxton ; indeed, the project is still under consideration. Why should not Poxton have its woollen and hemp manufactories also, and become an industrial centre ? Its possibilities as a seaside and health resort bdv‘6 tievOr been properly set forth ; yet Poxton has an unrivalled stretch of sea beach, a most salubrious summer climate, and many natural holiday attractions, to obtain which at present people journey expensively afar to many less desirable localities. Communities become great in such measure as their leading citizens possess imagination, courage, en thusiasm and a spirit of progress and enterprise. Communities stagnate whose leaders are wrapt up in their own petty affairs—who are parochial, jealous, narrow-minded and lacking generous instincts and public spirit.