NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 266, 20 April 1915, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

PROVINCIAL PRESS COMMENTS. This journal has for many years past steadfastly held to the opinion that New Plymouth must eventually be the principal port of Taranaki. There are people with considerable vested interests who consistently and persistently pull in a different direction, but all the pulling in the world will not prevent the ultimate triumph of the New (Plymouth Harbor. Nature will settle the question. Where the deep water is, there the large ships will eventually go, and as the deep water happens to '•* at New Plymouth that is vlicr ■ the main 'port for this province must be. Of course, all the troubles are not over yet. Contracts have to expire and fresh contracts be entered into before the New Plymouth Harbor comes in for its own. And there are still vested interests to contend against, and every effort will have to be made by those interested before New Plymouth will be made a regular port of call for the ocean-going steamers. If the new co-operative freezing company is successfully floated, and the site chosen for the new works is situated close to the breakwater—and that is the most favored site—then there will be an additional inducement for the big steamers to call. —Eltham Argus.

The requirements of the shipping companies having been met. there is no longer any valid reason why ocean liners should not call regularly to deliver imports and take in export cargo at the port. For many years, in the face of creat difficulty, and at times not a little opposition, the board has pressed onward witli this goal in view, and to its members congratulations and thanks are due. There is now little doubt but that when trade flows again into its normal channels, with the conclusion of the war, the large shipping lines trading to New Zealand will include New Plymouth as a regular port of call for direct steamers. The saving to the settlers in transhipment charges, both inward and outward, which must follow on direct trade with Britain, should make it well worth while for a move in the direction of ensuring that the advantages of direct trade be conceded by the shipping companies. Any such movement, however, must be strongly backed up by all parts of the district if it is to succeed. A very important point in this connection should lie borne in mind by settlers, it is with legavd to the board's finance, ami the liability of the district to find a harbor rate if such is required. When the new loan was raised in I'.KW it was stated that no rate would be collected for at least several years, and possibly not at all. Up to this date it has not been found necessary to levy a harbour rate, but the indications certainly are that unless there is a substantial increase in the ordinary revenue a small rate may have to be struck next year io meet a deficiency. Direct trade may mean this desirable increase of ordinary revenue, and all parts of the district should therefore work" together to obtain it for their own personal benefit if for no other reason.—Stratford Post.