ghttln |tewo* MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1915. TARANAItFS POKT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 265, 19 April 1915, Page 4

ghttln |tewo* MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1915. TARANAItFS POKT.

The statement made by Captain Waller, harbormaster at Moturoa, at the meeting of the Harbor Board on Friday shoiild be received with much gratification throughout the province of Taranaki. He expressed the opinion that the Board had now achieved its object in ' the deepening of the swinging basin anfi the approach to the wharf, and that the S port could now accommodate tlie largest vessels coming to New Zealand. This means that the requirements of the shipping companies having been met there is no longer any valid reason why the J ocean liners should not call regularly here to deliver imports and take in exports. It has been a slow and costly process to achieve the end in view, but as the old proverb says, "Everything comes to those who know how to wait." This knowing how to wait indicates the need for working with well directed energy to bring about the result-r-not sitting down with folded hands ■ and letting matters drift. The Board has pursued a wise and commendable policy in its ■work of preparing the harbor at Moturoa for the important function it ha 3 to i fulfil for the settlers of Taranaki, and now the fruits of its labor should be . reaped. There is still, and always will be, work to be done, as there is at every seaport, but it is very gratifying to ' ■ know that there is plenty of water in ' the harbor, and that by the time the i next season for exports arrives accomi modation for ocean ships will, be provided that will leave nothing to be desired. At present, owing to the war, it ;s hardly likely that arrangements could be made for the Home boats to rail here even if sufficient inducement offered. There will, therefore, he ample time for the shipping companies to make the necessary arrangements for working the port. Both the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Sliaw-Pavi!l Co. have agents in New Plymouth who are quite capable of managing all the business connected witli the outward and inward cargoes, so that there need he no trouble on that head. The vital point is whether these companies will recognise New Plymouth as being entitled to the service for which the harbor has been prepared at enormous cost. Mr. Newton King appears to derive some * hope from the fact that the Shaw-Savill Co. bad expressed pleasure on learning that the port would be available next season, and he deduced therefrom that they intended to make use of it. There is nothing oter-optimistic in that opinion. Though these companies had good, reason in the past for not sending their vessels here, they have no justification in adhering to that course in the future. At the same time there is some force in the contention of Mr. D. J. Hughes that New Plymouth had never been treated as it should have been as regards shipping facilities, but his remedy—a Stats commercial fleet-is one that mav not commend itself to those in authority. That some alteration is needed in shipping matters is generally admitted to be necessary, and the State; has come to the rescue of the producers in so many directions that it is not surprising they lean on the State unduly, instead of combining to secure their needs in the same business-like way that has made their co-operative dairy factories such a pronounced success. There cannot bo i the slightest doubt as to the trade of Taranaki thoroughly justifying direct liners coming to the port. Without go- J ing into figures it will readily be understood that the import trade would be ' very extensive and remunerative, while ' the export trade—butter, cheese, meat, ' tallow, hides and other products—for tile whole province should of itself he sutfi- ' cient to justify a fortnightly service 1 throughout the season. The producers F of Taranaki should liv this lime Tie con- 1 vinood that it is to their best interest 0 to show a united front in making use of t the port of the province, and supporting diiec-t shipment, thereby ensuring a regular service without any risk of de'av or disappointment caused by a mishap < to the coastal service. It is being slow- i

ly recognised thai the port; is not 6 loosi affair, bui & provincial toon, and this sentiment should take deep root and spread. Tha larger the trade at tlia wharf the less should bo the charges, and if the settlers of Taranaki are alive to those things which will Increase their prosperity they will do their utmost to promote the success of the port, for thereby they will cheapen their imports as well aa the charges on their exports. Meanwhile the one important point is to bring the shipping companies into line, failing which other arrangements must be made.