HARBOUR EXTENSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 111, 17 May 1902, Page 2

HARBOUR EXTENSION.

PEISOM LABOUR ADVOOATKD. At the mfetine rf ihs Hnr'riur Board on Friday, n deputation from the Chamber of Oomm"rce consisting of Messrs. W. Newman and R. (Tick, waited on tha B-mrd to urge that endeavours should be made to secure prison labour f r harbour extension works.

Mr. Newman end he eould state from personal knowledge that when the prisoners were employed some time ago at the breakwater they did very good work. Since then the Board had obtained a large crane and other equipments for hurdling large stones, and a« the Board's funds, were, he trusted, IB a better state now than at the period referred to he felt sure that if the Government, was persuaded to send the pris inet's along, the harbour wou'd at no distant dite he so improved as t# permit ocean ships to call ho>e. Mr. Cock, after expressing regret at Mr. Coenett'B absence, also r ferred to the good work by the prisoner-.' consldedtig the appliance then vniUble. He reminded the Board of th" action of those ihter. s'ed <n the port when

( h.' 'arg'» crane wa* purchased and s.ved the mole from d «•«(;> uc'ion. ; Sitce thvn hundreds of pounds had 'been wasted on ? e servici s of en-wht-rftis if tho scheme which was at that time p opoped fo r straightening out the mole had b«en adopted, a £lO note would have covered the cost of plar.s. The p isoners had dona an uncommon amount of good work at the breakwater and would do so again if employed. For years the Board had been dominated by adverse influences and the interests of the district suffered. If the ocean steamer* could be brought to th • breakwater 4|d a box would be saved on butter exported, and there were about 250,000 boxes shipped from here and Patea.

Mr. Foieman: We do not pay that. Mr. Cock: It is paid indir'otly and the saving would be a great benefit to th» district. Tho Chairman intimated 'hat th* Board would consider the proposal sub* mittcd by the deputation, wttich then withdrew.