The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1913. THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 297, 8 May 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1913. THE HARBOR.

Judging by their remarks at yesterday's meeting, the chairman and some of tho

members of the Harbor Board are laboring under a delusion in regard to the attitude of the Press in connection with the Harbor improvement work. It has not been one of hostility to the administrative ability of the members; that has i not been in question. Speaking for ourselves, the Board, and particularly its chairman, has, on the contrary, been given every credit for the work it has done and is doing. There has, as far as we are aware, been no complaint, to quote the words of the chairman, "throughout the district in connection with the way the harbor improvement works were carried out," Mr. Bellringer voiced the true feeling when he said: "Members must admit that there is a feeling of impatience at the delay." And there is no denying that this feeling does exist. The public were assured at the time the Board went to the ratepayers for authority to raise the big loan that the harbor would by now be ready for the Home liners. The Board, as a Board, may never have officially made j the statement, but that the promise was ' given by those in authority can be easily | established. We know that the Board has been "up against" difficulties of a nature and an extent that could never have been anticipated, and we know, too, that the Board lias grappled with them in a manner that redounds to its credit—credit, too, which the Press ha» never withheld from it. But the outside public naturally are asking: When can we expect the harbor to bo ready? It is from that point of view that the News has discussed ways and means of facilitating the dredging work. It has never presumed to dogmatise on the matter. It has simply been asking whether it is possible to work the present dredge for a longer daily period, and whether it is practicable to obtain the use of another dredge for a twelvemonth. We recognise that these are queestions upon which expert advice is required before an answer can be given. The Press, let us inform the Board, is quite within its rights in asking these questions, and in seeking the fullest information regarding the position of the harbor, for the fact should not be overlooked that the Press, in this matter, is simply the mouthpiece of the public that guarantees the loan and owns the harbor. The public is entitled to know all about the work, and whether it can be facilitated in any manner. If it can be shown that it is humanly impossible for the Board to do more • with the means at its disposal than it is doing, that settles the question, and the public will have to possess its soul in peace for anciher year. We recognise that it would be better to wait a little longer than to take the slightest risk with the harbor, but we do think' it would be wise for the Board to adopt Mr. Bellringer's suggestion to get Captain Waller to submit a comprehensive report to the Board, for subsequent publication, on •the whole of.the work that has been done in connection with the scheme and its position at the present day. "This would," to quote Mr. Bellringer, "serve to enlighten the public, who were looking very eagerly to the time when Now Plymouth would have big ocean-going steamers calling at the port," and, moreover, would allay the impatience that 'has been steadily growing lately throughout the district. As for what the members think of the Press, we care nothing; we only care for the interests of the public. But we would just like' to remind some of the members who spoke in disparaging terms of the Press at yesterday's meeting—and without the slightest justification— .the cordial support and co-operation of the very same Press played no unimportant part in the authorising of the big loan that is making possible the construction of a deepwater trans-marine port at Moturoa. Incidentally, It is one of those curious anomalies that so often attach to local Government that the discussion in question should have arißen over the suggestibn that further information should be given to allay the growing public uneasiness. Apparently we have our uses after all. ■ T I