RIVAL PORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 3 February 1914, Page 2

RIVAL PORTS.

PATKA AND NEW PLYMOUTH IIAIU3OIW. Mr I).,I. ||uf;li.-, writes to the llawcr. Mar: --hi yiiuiv of tin- i»7Lli instant, yoi report Mr Christiansen, the chairmai ■if the Patea Harbor Hoard, a- sayiirj "that he was afraid it would lie man.\ \cars before .New Plymouth would lu ihle to .yet Home boat- to load there for dairy produce, and that he did not think New Plymouth port would be oi any real advantage to fanners." Also, Mr tini-iiaiisci) tlirew out the insinuation that if these liners eanie to-Now Plymouth "they would have to lie loaded in the open >ca, tbu miiih- as at. \Y;iitara." 1 wish to take this opportunity of informing -Mr Christiansen and bis colleagues that, if he enquires of nautical experts from the head of the .Marine Department downwards, be will 11 ml out that ocean liners will be able to come right lip to tlic wharf alongside the railway truck-, at New Plymouth; also that if a personal visit is made to New Plymouth by Mr Christiansen, he will notice that every step is ln-in<r taken towards accommodating ocean liners. 1 must agree to dill'er with Mr Christiansen as to the capabilities of Patea and New Plymouth as regards catering for the shipping in the future. Anyone studying i s. d. must know that, transhipping docs not help butter and cheese to bring better prices. I look forward to the time, at no distant date, wben dairy produce will not be buffeted aboat from pillar to post such as our Xar.tuaki -.tulV gets at present: hut will practically go direct from the factory shelves to Hie ocean liner. There is no doubt that the carriage of dairy produce is not going to be run by the ring of monopolistic shipping companies as at present. What is to prevent the companies of Taranaki and Waikato joining hands and carrying their own goods to and from the markets of the world' No, no, Mr Christiansen, leave New Plymouth port alone: she will light her way to the front in spite of stabs in tlii back; you have quite enough to do keeping afloat Patea. 'Maybe it wou.J ho no harm for yon to put on your thinking-cap, asking yourself bow New Plymouth's success will alTect Paten's revenue bv and live.