The Daily News, MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1903. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 197, 22 June 1903, Page 2

The Daily News, MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1903. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

The discussion at the meeting of the Haibour Board regirding the proposed extension of the Breakwater was exceedingly disappointing. The members may be divided into tbreo sections; two, Messrs Maxwell and McLean opposed to any extension whafev r; fcsvo, Messrs Foremau and Dingle in favour of extension if it can be done without any additional rate, and the rerunning four who consider the extension of the harbour of such importance that it is worth some sacrifice to obtain the undoubted advantage that would fdlow. It is satisfactory, therefore, to notice that there is a clear "majority of the Bond in favour of progress. The most disappointing feature of tbe discussion was that the merits of the scheme received hardly any corsideration. The Committees scheme contains two proposal?, one bdng to carry on the extension of the Breakwater by prison labou 1 ', the al'ercativa b-'ing a loan So far the qu'S'ion of the best way to carry out tbe extension has not been dismissed. Some little time ago Mr Standkh brought down a scheme which had many advantages, and it would have been more saisfactory if the Oommiitee of the Board had stated whether it had been considered by them, and why it had been rejected in favour of the scherm submitted. Probably the hopelessness cf coming to a vote if other questions were in'roduced, caused several of the members to say as little as possible. Dealing with Mr Maxwell's remarks, we ne.-d oaly say his opposition to the harb ur «as so pronounced, and bis views so narrow, that it is wastiug time to discuss his remarks. It may, however, be pointed out that Irs argummt about natural harbours is altogether contrary to experience, Many of the important harbours are more or less artificial and the result of the expenditure of money on the best engineering skill, we need enh mention the Olyde, London, Plymouth and the Manchester Oanal. Further than that the possession cf a good natural harbour by no means secures a flourishing port, bs may be seen in the case of Picton, Akaroa, Raglan, Kawhia, and the splendid natural harbours nor h <f Auckland. Ihe same argument as Mr Maxwell usaa was used in the case of the Su. z Oanal, and again in the case of the Manchester Oansl, yet both those great works have justified the expenditure. If the people of Taranaki intend to nake their district prosperous and independent they will turn a deaf ear to Mr Maxwell and with the aid of the best engineering skill do what nature has not dne for them. We are gkd to see Mr Maxwell and the Farmers Union have opened up tha question of representation. There is not another harbour difetrict in the colony where the shipping and commercial interests are so neglected as they are here, and we should have been glad to see the chairman go further ia his notice of motion and try to secure representation for these interests oa tho Board, In most harbour districts | the mayor of the chief town has a Beat on the Board, the Chamber of Commerce nominates one or two members, while those paying harbour and owners of vessels of upwards of 50 tons all have special representation. In almost every case the Government; nominates two or three, and in som;j cases more members. In no case do the ratepayers directly elect so hrg* a proportion of the Board as in this district, the elective members in most cases being elected by City or Borough Councils. If the Farmers Union had been wise they would hivd left this matter alone.