DIRECT SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1916, Page 4

DIRECT SHIPPING.

It may bo takon for granted that Home liners will be berthed at Moturoa before the end of.the year. The Marine Super-, nteiident of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company (dipt. T. H. Chudley) visited Ihe port on Thursday, and his report is favorable to his company's boats using (he port. There are a few improvements still to bo. carried out, but these will not entail any difficulty or expense, relating as (they do principally to dredging. The new freezing works will, be ready early in the season, and shipments of meat should be made in November or December. The coming of flip Home liners will mean a big thing for the port and also for the province, marking as it will the commencement of a direct service between the Homo ports and Taranaki, for which our leading men have worked for many, many years. It is, of course, not to be expected that in these abnormal times a regular direct inward servjee will be instituted. We can only expect meantime vessels to come here and take away our inert, hides, wool, etc., and inter, probably, our dairy produce. The outstanding fan is that our harbor accommodation : s now considered by an expert sufficient for his company's purpose, and that the big ships are ensured safe anchorage, and harborage. Oiiee the liners come here, the establishing of a reguUv direct inward service will riiturally follow, and Taranaki will very largely be- saved coastal freights, the benefit of which the producers, of course, will receive. This saving will represent thousands of pounds annually hud in a few years will be sufficient to pay for the whole cost of the harbor. Captain Chudley is satisfied that New l.'lymouth ought to mike as good a port is Timarn. Mr. Marchant; engineer for both harbors; has stated that New Plymouth possesses natural advantages over Tinraru, and from this ve may deduce that we can in tir.;« iv.ake the port quite as' good, at any rate, as Timaru. We certainly can now effer accommedation for Home liner? much more adr.qu.ate than could Timarn i few years back. Once the service is started, the Harbor Board can be deponded upon to continue its progressive policy and extend the harbor accommodation. It al vays has had behind it the cordial support of the province, which will certainly not slacken when the fruits of its enlightened policy have been tasted. Indeed, if it should come for'inrd with a borrowing policy for making expensive improvements it could rely upon a continuance of that support The Board has made good with its formor proposition, in Buch a way as to entail no tax en ratepayers, and it is I'kcly the accommodation could still •'urther bo improved without the imposition of a rate. That, however, is a m.itter for the future. The important ;>oint is that <he Board- has now provided the province with a deep sea harbor that will meet the requirements, that are not altogether nnexneting, of the shipping "rmpanies and that vessels will make use of in the immediate fuli?re. For this'result they deserve hearty congratulation. The effect Upon the development and prospects of the town and province is hard to over-estimate, but it should b; apparent soon to even He most indifferent.