NAPIER AND NEW PLYMOUTH PORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1918, Page 6

NAPIER AND NEW PLYMOUTH PORTS.

To the Editor. Sir,—-Til ydur issue of to-day there u an extract from tlie Patea Press, criticising adversely the A T ew Plymouth Harbor .Board's proposals, and mentjfliring t'ho case of Napier Harbor. There is no comparison between the harbors of New Plymouth and Napier. T'lie cause of the partial failure of the outer harbor at Napier is due to divided interests and want of unity, there being two parties—one for the outer harbor, the other for the inner harbor improvement scheme—with the result tha<t iNapier Harbor is no further ahead than it was ten years ago. Works were suspended at the breakwater with the winning-post in Right. If 800 ft had been added to the breakwater, and a little dredging dono, thfl large carg-o carriers would ibe able to berth, in all but the most severe weather. Now, with regard to New Plymouth, in the whole range of the coast from Wellington to the JTorth Oape—a distance of, approximately, 500 milea—the only place that a deep-sea harbor can be constructed with guaranteed success is at Moturoa-, all of the other hanbors and river ports being menaced by the almost insuperable difficulties of bar harbors, caused by the drifting sand. Considerable sums of money have been spent from time to time, which has only resulted in temporary relief, not permanent

Several ocean liners havo already been successfully bertdied at t'ho New Plymouth wharf. This befag so, tile unanimous opinion of competent men is that whea tho first portion of Mr. Blair Mason's scheme is completed—that la. extension of breakwater, connection of Moturea, etc-—the largest class of steamship trading to tho •Dominion will be able t,i> berth and lie se.rire in all weathers. Wnen ths dislocation of shipping caused through the war resumes its normal conditions, the present berthage at New Plymouth wharf will be found to be far too small, and it behoves all interested in tho welfare of this great district to make early preparation. A good tbject lessen which shows the business acumen and faith in tho near future requirements of the district is, despite the shortage of shipping,. the fact of the extension of the Smart Eoad and Mcturoa freezing works. In conclusion, I venture to say that all honest men, unless blinded by prejudice, will agree that the extension of New Plymouth Harbor will benefit the whole province, and be a lasting monument to the farsighted policy of tl\p. .V«w Plymouth Harbor Board and the district generally. —I am, etc., BGMONT. August I.