HARBOR SCHEME MEETINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1918, Page 3

HARBOR SCHEME MEETINGS.

SOME POINTS FROM THE SPEECHES. During the meetings held throughout Taranaki in furtherance of the proposals for the improvement of the New Plymouth harbor, some very telling points were made by the speakers. Thus Mr. Wilkinson, at the Eltham meeting:—"Ratepayers should remember that the day will come when the producers of Taranaki will have to put their produce on the Home liners at their own expense, and they should put 'their faith in the board, and tliey could do that with full confidence as to the I ultimate results."

Mr. Newton King, at Riraiea:— "You would not have found the Government nearly so eager to complete the coast railway if there was no immediate prospect of the improvement of the lNew Plymouth harbor."

"The saving which farmers would effect on the price of their manures alone was sufficient to warrant the proposed improvement to the harbor. Utan, again, the saving Oil benzine, Is fid per case, meant a caving of over £OOOO per year. At the very worst, that amount was much more than ratepayers would ever be called upon to pay."

Mr. M'limnncss. at Riverlea:—"When I was elected to the hoard, I refused to make any pledge regarding opposing further borrowing. The only pledge I. made was that I would do my utmost to see (lint (he ratepayers received 20s worth oi value for every 20s spent, and if the proposed loan was sanctioned—and T hope that it will lie—l will still do my utmost to see that the ratepayers received full value for their money." Mr. Wilkinson, at Riverlea:—"l don't think that there is a man in the province who will dare to say that tfie board has not done well with the funis at its disposal. The board had taken 10 years to spend €IOO.OOO. so it could hardly be said that they had unduly msned matters." Mr. Newton King, at Riverlea:—"l claim that we (the board) have done remarkably well. We have knocked out that old prejudice that ocean liners would never berth at New Plymouth."

Mr. Newton King, at Kaponga:—"The great 'bugbear' that we have hau io lace was to secure the regular calls of liners, hut now we have .got over that trouble, and it must be admitted that it was absolutely essential to export our dairy produce away regularly at fortnightly intervals at least."

Mr. Wilkinson, at Kaponga:—"The greatest opposition we have met in connection with the harbor improvement proposal comes from vested interests. You know what the hoard'has done in the past; therefore, f am convinced tnat we can appeal to you for support on past performances. We come before you and place our .cards on the table, and stake the future of the harbor on your verdict alone."

Mr. B. Dive, speaking at the Klthnm meeting, said that some years ago the opinion was freely expressed that it was a matter of impossibility to make a harbor at New Plymouth. However, it had been made, and had been visited by big liners. Tn fact, it was one of the finest harbors in the eolonv. The board did not propose to raise £300,(100 all at once, but it would be borrowed in several sums, as necessity required. If we sanction this loan, we will be provided with one of the finest harbors in the Dominion."

Mr. Wilkinson. M.P.. at Kaponga: "Centlemen, I assure you that boUi Mr. Marx and Mr. Astbury, who, bytue wayi are running in double harness at the present time, admit tiiut the plan of the proposed harbor is a very good one; but what they wanted the to do was to hold it ov-jr for 20 or 'M years, ami ttie trouble was that the board cotilu not wail that long—at least neither lie nor Mr. King could." (Laughter.) Whilst delivering a short address at liie Kaponga meeting. Mr. AstLury was interrupted by an interjection from Mr. D. Hughes, who said: —"l'ou are a good old Tory." Mr. Astbury took strong exception to the remark, adding that mat was the second occasion that day that .Mr. Hughes had made the. same remark. Mr. Hughes said that perhaps to 1-a.V. .'■im a 'Kip Va.i Winkle" wuu.-d be riKiro api.i'opriiite.

.Mr. Wilkinson, .M.l',, at Kaponga:---.Mr. Astunry stated at the iciCerlca nicciiiiy tliiii tiie Mnni>aiuki Dairy t'aclury had saved aMOil m railayc alone through ionvatdir.y their produce to PaUa insu-ad of Moluroa. Now, tice tact was thai; they had not saved one brass i'urtiiiiiy as the freight to each port was

Air. Astbury, at Ala>i;;.»(oki:— "All im;s( admit linn the scheme of harbor i'liproiunifi.t. as iiiiiliiied by Mr. iilair Mason, was a beaiiurn!. woiiderfiii. .inn brilliant one; but lie (the speaker) contended thai" not mi 1i! TaruiiaKj had doubled its present population should the work k-p itt in hand.

(From Our Own •_.! Respondent.) Tliere was only a snVVil attendance at tlie meeting at Kiverlea or. Tuesday. Tlie chairman of the Harbor Board (Mr. Ke\rt'"<» liing) addressed t.hs meeting on

the same lines as those reported at tiie Elthani meeting. Mr. C. M'Guinness, a member of the board, said that when elected 18 months ago he went on with an open mind, but it was commonly said in Taranaki, at the time of raising the last loan, that it was a case of building a breakwater on » sand foundation, and that it w M uniivalent to throwing money into the sea. The work which had been done by the board in the expenditure of the last lorin was most satisfactory, as had been amply proved by the berthing of Home liners at New Plymouth. He asked himself the question: Would not direct shipping be of benefit to him? Of course it would, and it would also help the producers on the land. In the very near future it was essential that the productiveness of the soil would have to be increased. To do that more manure was required, and the benefits of the proposed improvements to the harbor would have the effect of greatly cheapening that commodity. The proposed scheme would prove a double benefit, aa we would Jiave direct importation an« exportation. If the scheme proved a failure, he would lose his quota as well as other people, but on that score he had no fears.

Messrs Blair Mason, Captain Waller, and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson also addressed the meeting.

Mr. G. Gibson asked whether the proposed scheme was in the interests of town or country?

Mr. King: The whole country, of course.

Mr. Gibson: I hae my doots. (Laughter.)

Mr. M. Voullaire moved—"That in the opinion of this meeting, ratepayers should stand by the scheme and give it their henrty support."—Seconded by Mr. John Malone.

An amendment was moved by Mr. Astbury, seconded by Mr. J. Marx. The motion was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. KAPONGA. A meeting was held at Kaponga on Tuesday evening, when there iras u. very fair attendance.

The chair was occupied Dy Mr. A, H. Guy, who, in opening the meeting, said that the matter of the proposed harbor improvement at New Plymouth was of the greatest interest to the whole of [Taranaki. It was not a local matter, but a provincial matter, and members of the Harbor Board were present to give full details of the scheme. He (the chairman) was almost prepared to say that they were going to provide a harbor that will accommodate tne largest ocean liners.

Messrs Newton King, C. M'Guinness, C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., Blair Mason, and Captain Waller addressed the meeting, their remarks being frequently punctuated with applause.

The meeting throughout was distinctly favorable to the views of the board and at the conclusion of the addresses, Mr. (J. Death moved—''That, having heard the proposals of the board for the improvement of the New Plymouth harbor, that ratepayers should support the scheme."

Seconded by Mr. R. Dagg.

Mr. Astbury moved, an amendment in opposition, similar to that moved at other meetings, which was seconded by Mr. Robert Law.

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried bv 10 votes' to 4.