The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1913. DIRECT SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1913. DIRECT SHIPPING.

The statement made by Mr. J. McMillan, the deputy-manager of the Shaw-Savill Sliippiiif; Company, who fortunately was able to spare time to include New Plymouth in his tour of New Zealand, to the meeting of leading business men that was hurriedly called for last evening, cannot be regarded as other than very satisfactory. ' Mr. McMillan was very clear on what to lis all is ail essential point, that as soon as our harbor is ready to receive, his company's large boats and them is a sufficiency of cargo —which he put at a minimum of 1000 tons per boat trip —the vessels will call. Of the readiness of the harbor, those who are acquainted with tlic progress of operations entertain no doubt at all. Hy May next the fairway will have been cut to a sufficient depth to ensure a vessel drawing up to 30 feet, and possibly more, working the harbor if perfect safety in all weathers. The berth has already been dredged to the depth required, and with the completion of the wharf extension in a few months' time, there will he a mooring face available for the largest vessels trading to the country. There will likewise be no difficulty in obtaining the amount of

cargo required. It only needs the whole of the Taranaki traders to combine to secure sufficient cargo to justify a monthly service. Probably, however, they would for a start have to content themselves with a service every other month. Mr. McMillan showed that if the necessary trade were forthcoming, his company would be prepared and pleased to run twenty-four boats a year. Our traders have now something definite t<. go upon and aim at. The traders in every centre in the province should be

seen and asked to join in the scheme and furnish information regarding their imports. We are pleased that a move in litis direction is to be made without delay, the president of the Tavanaki Chamber of Commerce (Mr. Johns) having. we learn, undertaken, in conjunction with Mr. C. E. Bellringer (a member of the Harbor Board), to take the matter in hand, whilst Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., i< to call a meeting of the traders of Tnglewood, Stratford, Eltham and Hawera. There are the towns of Waitara, Opuuake, Manaia and Knponga to work, and possibly the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce will see its way to undertake this duty. The matter should not be allowed to remain in abeyance; it is one of urgency. We feel sure the traders of Taranaki will only be 100 glad of the opportunity to co-operate in a scheme that must result in an immense saving to them and prove of considerable convenience. The advantages of direct shipping over the present transhipment service are too obvious to require emphasis. The direct service has only to be inaugurated to become a success. Mr. McMillan remarked that on present import figures New Plymouth hardly justified, Home vessels calling frequently, but. as was pointed out, the 'present, import figures afford absolutely no ind'eation of what Taranaki's imports really are, for not a small proportion is railed from Wellington, whilst the supplies for the lower part of the province all come by way of Patea. A regular direct service to New Plymouth would be availed of by every importer, for the simple reason tliat it would pay him ,to do so. No question of sentiment will weigh with the trader when it comes t > freight charges. He will choose every time the cheapest route and the most convpriieht service. But it is not the present. trade of Taranaki that is to be considered, large as it is in proportion tfo the population. It is the potential trade. Taranaki is only partially developed. There are thousands and thousands of acres of country in the hinterland at present quite undeveloped. There are thousands more in the initial stages of development. Every year the requirements of the district are. growing, and it is quite safe to say that in the course of a very few years the trade will be doubled, if not trebled. Taranaki is not a large province- in area or population, it is true, but it is easily the richest. This is shown by its exports, which last year averaged £3O per head, as against the Dominion's general average of £2O. The population is small compared with the population of districts in England, but the conditions here are entirely different from those obtaining at Home. We are i* the prbcoss of subduing the wilderness and making the country. Our requirements > consequently are considerable. At the same time the spending power of the people, because of the fertility of the soil and the favorable climate, is. compared with Home, immense. And it is growing. This means an increasing trade. New Zealand is a fortunate country, but undoubtedly the most favored part of it is Taranaki. "'Provide the trade and we will provide the ships"— that is what our distinguished visitor says. It is for ns to take him at his word and provide the trade. As we have it already, and as it is increasing at a rapid rate, we can, by bringing traders into line and working together in mutual interest, have no doubt but that in the course of a month or two the guai antee for the initiation of a service that must confer considerable benefits on the province, and must.-also demonstrate the value and utility of the harbor in the development of this fertile province, will be forthcoming.