PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 264, 17 April 1915, Page 3

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

GOOD .PROGRESS MADE. NOW READY FOR LARGEST VESSELS. At the Harbor Board meeting yesterday Captain Waller, the harbormaster, was in attendance, and the chairman having explained that the Board felt that the time had arrived when the overtime which the dredge was working might be dispensed with, asked the harbormaster his opinion on this matter. Captain .Waller said his opinion was that they had now achieved their object in the deepening of the swinging basin in the. channel, and the reminder of the work could be done in the eight-hour day. The port could now accommodate the largest vessels-coming to New Zealand. There did not appear to be any further need to work overtime.

Mr. Wilkinson asked when the fuft deepening of the harbor would be completed? He wondered if there would be any difficulty in getting vessels in next spring.

Captain Waller said there was plenty of water in the harbor, but he would not say that they had the full amount demanded by the shipping companies. Mr. Wilkinson said the point was that they should not revert to the 8-hour day if they could not get the work completed by next spring. Mr. Bellringer said that judging by the past rate of progress he considered that there would be no difficulty in securing the completion of the work by that time. But with the war continuing it was questionable whether big boats would be available. If there was anything to gain by continuing as at present he would strenuously oppose the old system, otherwise there was no resson why they should save the extra cost. If it were found necessary they could again work overtime. At present they were only working one 1 and a-half hours extra. He moved that they revert to ordinary jiours. - Mr. Marx considered that Mr. Bellringer had touched upon the chief point when he referred to the effect of the war. . Even Wellington could not get the necessary boats to take away the produce. Mr. Wilkinson said lie was quite satisfied that they could go back to the ordinary working hours.

Mr. Maxwell agreed. He was very pleased to hear Captain Waller's state- I ment that they could accommodate the largest liners. They had not reached the shipping companies' requirements, J but they all knew that the companies ; were demanding more from New Ply-! mouth port than from any other. |

Mr. King said he had heard from the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and they expressed pleasure on learning that the port would be available next year. Ihis showed that they intended nuking use of it. The chairman said he was also satisfied that they had come to a right decision. He agreed with Mr. Maxwell that the shipping companies were asking more of New Plymouth than they were of any other port in the Dominion.

The motion was then carried, it being decided to revert to the ordinary hours from 'May I.