OCEAN-GOING BOATS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 241, 20 March 1915, Page 7

OCEAN-GOING BOATS.

FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. DISCUSSION AT THE HARBOR BOARD MEETING. At yesterday's meeting of the Harbor Board, Mr Wilkinson said he had received communications from dairy factories with references to the arrival of ocean-going steamers at New .Plymouth, and would like to bring this matter again before the Board. He considered that tlicv should endeavor to push ahead. The South Taranaki dairy factories were, lie understood, having some trouble in connection with railway facilities New Plymouth, and he considered that their produce would never he properly handled until the large steamers were arriving at the port. One of his correspondents had suggested a meeting of the factories interested to discuss this matter, and he had promised to bring it before the Board. Mr Marx said his particular company were sending their produce to Pat<;a, on account of the railage. He would, however, recommend that his company be represented at any meeting that might be held. It might filter their views considerably.

Mr Maxwell considered it a. very good suggestion indeed, especially if the conference was held at New Plymouth.

Mr Wilkinson said next spring they would have to make a determined effort to get the. big boats into New Plymouth, but they would have to combine with the producers to secure success. Jt Mould be of great advantage to the latter in various ways. Mr Marx said at present p large ouantity of produce went south, and if it eventually came north they at Now Plymouth would have to arrange for more storage accommodation. Mr Maxwell thought that the arrival of the large boats would do away with the necessity, for so much storage accommodation.

Mr King said he agreed with Mr Marx. The shipments were spasmodic. It was not every boat that shipped meat that also shipped butter. Ho thought, however, that the shipping companies would not run their large boats to the port until sewral smaller ones had been dealt with successfully. They wanted to get the small boats in to take meat anil other tilings and later the companies would send their bigger boats along. The chairman said they had the additional three feet in the depth of the harbor which was necessary to get the big boats in, and he saw no reason why they should not come next summer. Mr Wilkinson and the chairman referred to the manner in which the dairycompanies' produce was handled.

Mr "Marx declared that it was handled very badly indeed. No crates or boxes would stand it.

Mr King expressed the opinion that it would be better to leave the question of calling of big boats alone for a little while. It was an inopportune time to bring up this matter. He was as anxious as anyone to see them calling at New Plymouth, but tile present war was interfering with shipping. Mr Wilkinson said the attitude he took was that they were going to let the shipping companies know that they would not be satisfied until they had the largo boats there. They we're determined to have them, and the sooner the better. There was a shortage at present, but the war would not. last for ever. The subject then dropped.