Manawatu Herald TUESDAY. JUNE 26, 1928. EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3810, 26 June 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY. JUNE 26, 1928. EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORT.

JJ' is recorded that the Roman Empire in (lie days of! its greatest power was made a coherent entity by its marvellous highway system. Easy and rapid communication with

its furthermost out-pots was. one of the chief, factors which rendered it possible to exist as the ruling power over most of the known world. In all history it has been the cfliriency of the transportation system of a nation which has been a sure index of its progress. Time was when the only mean of transport along this coast was per medium of small coastal vessels. Roads and railways followed, and did much to promote settlement and progress. The port of Foxton played a signal part in the development- of this district. The railway naturally diverted much of the transport of goods as time wore on, but coastal sea-bourne transport more than held its own by reason of cheaper freights. The port acted as a profitable feeder to the Fox-ton-Palmerston branch line, and for years added thousands of pounds to the working railways account. When, however, the Government acquired the Man awn tu railway there was a further falling off in shipping to the port. The Foxton Harbour Board was resuscitated, and was compelled to purchase the wharf from the Railway Department, but were given an endowment at the seaside and an area of land at Motniti in order to assist it- to carry on. During the past-few years shipping- to the port has been very irregular, and at the present time the revenue from the port is barely sufficient to meet administration ' barges. This latter state of affairs has been brought- about by the development of motor road transport,-which is now a keen competitor with both shipping and railway. The evolution of transport is certainly having a serious effect upon onr coastal ports, and the only -lire way of keeping the local port open is hy a regular shipping service between the South Island ports and Foxton. This is n point which the Harbour Board-and others inlores! ed will have to seriously consider in the near future.