The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1918. THE HARBOR PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1918. THE HARBOR PROPOSALS.

Criticism of the new proposals put forward by the New Plymouth Harbor Board should be welcomed, as criticism, so long as it is honest, will not only serve to acquaint settlers with the various points of the scheme—and they cannot be grasped all at once—but help the board in fashioning the ultimate scheme. So that the discussion at Hawera on Saturdayserved a valuable purpose. Several of the speakers did not favor the idea of voluntarily entering the third area in connection with the new loan proposal. They had secured exemption from any future liability when the last proposal was given legislative sanction, and they submitted that they would have to be assured of compensating advantages before they could agree to "come in." This, of course, was a reasonable view to take. If it Cannot be proved that it is in the interests of the settlers of the third area to join in the scheme, then it would be foolish for them to give it their support, just as much as it would be bad policy on the part of [the board to attempt to force them in against their wishes and interests. It is for the board to show the settlers in the third area that it is a business proposition on Jtheir part to join with the rest of Taranaki in sanctioning the scheme. Upon their ability in this direction will depend the fate of the proposals. It is clear that Avithout the united support of the whole harbor district, which extends in the south to the Waingongoro Riyer:, the scheme proposed b%Mr lElairf /Masqa caxuHs v ib# *n u^

through. It is obviously a big scheme in every way, designed not only for to-<''ay, but for the requirements of Taranaki in the future. It has the merit—so noticeably lacking in many past harbor and other public works—that every stone laid, every yard reclaimed, every piece of work done, fits into the finished scheme, however far off completion may be. That feature must appeal to no one more than to the hard-headed leaders of the southern districts, who, : in fact, display the same farsightedness and acumen in all the works with which they are associated. The chairman of the board stated at the public meeting at New Plymouth that it was proposed to'ask for authority to raise £300,000 by loan, not all at once, bat year by year as the money was wanted. Now the expenditure of this sum, he clearly showed, would not give the district the completed harbor, but it would provide a harbor safe enough in all weathers for the largest vessels that come to New Zealand. For the sum named the breakwater could be extended the requisite distance, the rubble wall connecting the island of Moturoa with the end of the present breakwater could be constructed, thus ensuring the reclamation of about seventy acres of valuable land required for warehouse sites, etc.; it would enable the breakwater to be converted into a wharf for big liners; it would enable the wharf to be extended, and the foot of the wharf, etc., to be reclaimed for railway termini, etc. The actual estimates of the cost of the various improvements have not been published, but when they are they are likely to provide for works in excess of those mentioned. At any rate, it would be prudent for the board to have a comfortable margin to work upon, as m the. case of the old scheme.