TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 9 November 1911, Page 4

TARANAKI.

ITS PROSPECTS AND NEEDS.

UAWX OF A XEW ERA

In the course of his speech last evening Mr. C. E. Bcllringcr, Liberal candidate for the/Paranaki seat, made some interesting observations regarding Taranaki and its prospects and needs, lie said: T believe that Taranaki is upon the threshold of a new era. The progress of the town and district lies largely with ourselves. Within twelve moiuhV f hope to see OCEAN LIXKRS lying alongside the wharf at the JJreulfr water. There is every prospect of this' eventuating. Splendid work has been done in improving the facilities and deepening the water for berthing the. ships from over the seas. What their coming means to this town and to Taranaki many of us hat-.. fo.iii.tlv realise. It means a tremendously' increased trade at the port, and all that an increased trade brings with it. Wo must he alive to the opportunities that present themselves. We ought to liecome under the new conditions a distributing centre for the whole of Taranaki, and with this there comes, too r the possibilities of intercolonial trade. We arc the nearest port to Sydney, with a course absolutely free from dangers to navigation in the snaps of hidden rocks and tortuous channels.. To secure trade we shall -Mye to fight for it. ■will do their' utmost tff retain their trade, and whnt we get we, shall have to Mn. i RAILING AXD ROADIXG THE HACK COUNTRY. To make trade for the port we shall have to bring all the pressure we cart to bear on the Government to push the, railway into the hack country, and open roads to bring our hinterland into touch with the port. There are great, possibilities around its, and we niiist be quick to seize them. I have already hinted at the necessity of our working with the people of Inglewood and Stratford in advancing the interests of their eastern country. We must surely recognise that their interest is one -with ours. THE OIL INDUSTRY.

Then we are on the eve of a great movement in connection with the oil industry. Within a few short weeksthere will be an inflow of British capital to this district. Wo can only faintly conceive how largely the oil industry \yill all'eet us. I 'have no hesitation .in saying I am satisfied that we have payable oil in Tantnaki. One well has now been running for a year and ten month* with practically no diminution in the How*. The other well has run steadily for several months. With wells all over the country then! is every rca-on to believe that a big return will be obtained. May I here publicly expre-s my appreciation of the splendid way in which Mr. C. Carter, the chairman of the Taranaki Petroleum Company has served Taranaki in London. Mr. Carter has had to negotiate with the keenest of Loudon business men, and .speaking "with inside "knowledge I say'.uu- ' reservedly that. 1)« has worthily upiiohl': the business " .reputation of Taranaki. He has surprised men who have come into contact with him, by the tact, patience and business ability lie has displayed in the negotiations. He should lie home again with the chairman of the London company at the end of this month, and I think it's up to Taranaki to show their appreciation of what he has done. THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE. The (lovernment has already expressed its intention to help the oil and ironsand industry, but we shall need a lot of help within the next year or so. T leave it to Mini- several judgments to decide as to the best course to take at this juncture. Wiil vo;i serve the interests of Taranaki best by returning as your member one who is prepared to work with the Party in power, for that the Government is going back to power is certain, or by again returning a. member in the Opposition interest? Let the results of the last three years be taken into consideration before you decide.