HARBOR SCHEME MEETINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1918, Page 6

HARBOR SCHEME MEETINGS.

AT KAPUKL OPINIONS EQUALLY DIVIDED. Members of the Harbor Boagd met tlie ratepayers at Kapuni on Thursday evening, the same Board members being present, as were also the prominent members of the Vigilance Committee. Mr Duncan Scott presided, and so well did he control the meeting that there was comparatively little interruption that characterised the previous meetings, with the result that the proceedings were over by 11 p.m. v Sir King explained the proposals in connection with th > raising of the proposed new Joan, showing the advantages that the harbor had already conferred on the district in the way of cheaper manure, benzine, etc., and stressed the point that while the harbor was now suitable for a certain elaas of Home liner they were desirous of making the harbor capable of accommodating the largest liners that traded to the colonv. The shipping companies had promised to recognise the port as soon as certain water and shelter had been provided, and already two of the companies had sent ships here to lift meat and within the next few weeks the third company, the O'unard Line, would send one of their vessels Ho lift meat. He pointed out that there would be little probability of a rate, because as the trade grew so would their revenue, and, moreover, they had valuable endowments. The proposed reclaimed land would be a great asset, and already they had applications 'for four sites from outside firms. Mr D. Hughes, member for the district on the Harbor Board stated that when lie joined the Board 11% years ago he had been prejudiced against the harbor, but its possibilities had been demonstrated to him. He showed that unless the scheme was adopted a rate would be necessary, and he did not want a rate levied on his property. The discussions so far had been Patea versus New Plymouth, because the opponents of the scheme had the impression that New Plymouth would progress so rapidly that the trade would naturally go there. He therefore urged tiiem all to support him ami save the rate. If they did not baeic him up it would perhaps be better to transfer into another district and get out of New Plymouth. Mr Maxwell said ill connection with the cost of the completed scheme that harbor improvements at any port were never completed unless that port was going back. Under the present scheme they had a splendid opportunity of making the port so that the produce could be placed direct on to the world's great rtiarkets.

Mr i.ilkinson, M.P., said that as member for the Harbor Board and also representative in the Hou?e for the district lie was not likalv to come before them with a foolish scheme, as he would be jeopardising his seat at next election. Ten years ago when the previous loan was raised there was considerable opposition as at present, but results had shown that the Board was justified in it? statements then made that there wouia probably be no rate. He denied that he had* ever promised that there would be no rate. He explained at length, in respone to Mr Powdrell's request, the land revenue and endowment fund, which could not be estimated with certainty, | but had been estimated very conservatively. With the new loan the intentionl .would be to spend the money as the increased trade warranted, and so it would be many years before they felt the rate on both the old and the new loan, if they ever felt it at all. He pointed out also that, even if the loan was carried by an overwhelming ma jority in the two other areas it would not be proceeded with tI )P Xo. 3 area endorsed it. He therefore appealed to all to give it fair consideration because if they condemned it. then the Harbor "Board would have to strike a rate, which would be difficult to collect. He pointed out the saving in manures when the railway was through to Kapuni and expressed the hope (hat next session an authorisation would be made to construct the line from Moturoa to Opunake, so as to encircle the mountain. On this [line the Government intended to employ returned soldiers. He made a strong appeal to them to fairly and squarely consider the matter from a provincial point of view, instead of being led away by aide issues. (Applause.) Mr Blair Mason, engineer to the Board, fully explained the plan, and also answered several questions. Mr Murdoch congratulated the members on the way in w'iiich they had explained the position. They had brought before ratepayers the advantages of the New Plymouth harbor in regard to the cartage of produce from the Dominion, but he pointed out that six boats had •-•j..j ti, e p or t aI)( j ol ii one ] ia( j carried away dairy produce. Batepayers objected to pledging their properties for a further loan, as they considered that New Plymouth harbor would not provide facilities for the regular exportation of their produce, which now went every fortnight from Wellington with a boat in between from Auckland. Quick dispatch was essential. The Shipping Companies now paid coastal freights to Wellington and Auckland, and previously they paid the coastal freights from Auckland until the dairy produce there increased so much. There was no assurance that mail boats would come to New Plymouth; in fact, he considered they would find it cheaper to pay the freight than to pay the cost ( £6OO per day) of visiting New Plymouth. It had been said that it would be cheaper to ship their produce through New Plymouth than Pa tea, but he considered the leaders of the dairy industry in South Taranaki should know their business better than Mr Wilkinson. It had been stated jthat the payment of the coastal freight was likely to be taken off, and he would like a committee of the Harbor Board to meet a committee of South Taranaki dairymen and give the information, so that steps could b" taken to combat it. Patea was the cheaper port for South Taranaki. There was a probability that the shipping companies, if they had another port to call at, might increase the freight and there was also the certainty that if at any time thereafter produce had to be taken by coastal boats the producer would have to pay the freights. He urged all to decline to pledge their property, pointing out that already they were liable for a rate of l-9d (one ninth) on the present loan, no rate yet having been struck because dredging to keep the port open had probably been done out of borrowed money. Mr Wilkinson considered that the previous speaker had made no condemnation of the scheme. He 'had said it would not pay to ship through Patea but had not given figures, v/hieh, however, he would do. A discussion then ensued on the question of ud N#w Plmguthj Mr

Wilkinson holding tlmt it would pay to' ship from the latter, whilst Messrs Pow- j drell, Murdoch and Corrigan advanced i the claims of Patea. The difference in: insurance rates as between New Plymouth and Patea was touched upon, as was also the crucial question of coastal j freight, Mr .Powdrell pointing out that I it had been paid for over 20 years, and he considered it would continue because, dairying people wished to centralise, the shipping people would not fight them. If Mr Maxwell had proof that this freight would cease, if. was vital that he should give it, and Mr. Powdrell suggested that each side should appoint a solicitor who would also appoint a solicitor, and if satisfactory proof were produced to them he was prepared to apologise; if not. they could only assume that the statement had been made with a view to inflneneinn- u 1( . ratepayers. Mr. Powdrell admitted that when the produce at Auckland became so large the mail boats called there for produce ar.d the coastal freights ceased. Mr Wilkinson remarked that that was what would happen at New Plymouth. He asked how Mr Powdrell knew the payment of coastal freight would never be taken off. Personally he considered that it was an unsafe proposition to work upon. Mr Powdrell said it never would be taken olV.' It had been paid for 20 years. He. a< a member of the N.D.A., had made t!"' i;'t. Mr Wilki ■■■■ad the opinion expressed by tliv.- -.uval Commission when bringing down the Te Roti-Moturoa railway report. Mr Powdrell asked whether it was thought those surveyors were more competent to .judge than were Mr Murdoch and himself. Mr. Wilkinson: I would say they were more capable of giving an unbiassed opinion than you! • Mr Powdrell: If they can tell us that we would not lose 13s 4d per ton by sending to New Plymouth, I will put up a large sum of money. Mr. Newton King said that as a member of the National Hairy Association. he was one of those who made the original contract with the shipping companies, and The centralisation was then agreed to because Taranaki had the bulk of the produce. As business men did they think it reasonable that the shippin? companies would send their boats to New Plvmoutji for meat and pay largo sums of money to have the dairy produce sent to Wellington for transhipment on the same boat? The companies had promised him to send their boats to New Plymouth when certain work was done,'and they had done so. They now said if certain other work was done they would take the dairy produce. Shipping companies knew this must go by regular steamers, and not spasmodically, and he thought there was not the shadow of doubt that when direct shipping started payment of coastal freight would cease.

In reply to Mr. Murdoch, Mr. King said the proposed interest, with sinking fund, was G per cent, but they might get the money for less. Further discussion took place regarding the annual cost of dredging the harbor. Mr .Stevenson said there was no doubt the scheme would benefit, the whole of Taranaki, and he wanted to know why Opunake and Waitnra, which were close to New Plymouth and would benefit to a greater extent, were bein? exempted. Whilst this area was being brought in. Mr King said that he quite admitted they should be brought in, but that could not be helped as they were separate harbor districts with their own ref fponsibilit.ies. Mr Wilkinson said that if the people in this district wished to join the Patea district, it would be his business member to assist them to do so. The collection of the rate on the old loan couhl be overcome, as in the case of county councils. Mr Powdrell thought that Opunake had got cunningly out of the New Plymouth Harbor rate. Thev would not build a wharf as tliey would get the railway to New Plymouth. Mr Wilkinson said that he always considered Opunake should be exempted, and have a district of its own, so as to build protection for its wharf, which he thought the district should have and if lliey wanted to go in for that protection he would help them all he could to get it, New Plymouth or no New Plymouth.

Mr Powdrell: Mr King, will yon honestly recommend us to go to New Plymouth, providing the coastal freight continues for all time and seeing that we would lose 13s 4d per ton by doing 50? Mr King considered that any loss would be more .than counter-balanced liy the saving in imports. Mr Marx said that in the new Bill there was a, clause exempting the area from any future call. Were the board serious in this? Mr King replied that if the loan was negotiated, he was such a believer in the scheme, that he thought the value of the reclaimed land would in time enable the board to borrow without coming to the ratepayers. Mr Corrigan, after explaining his status as a ratepayer, said that it was obvious that the board, now the loan was spent, could not keep the harbor open out of revenue and must strike a small rate or else go in for a further loan. He considered the present an inopportune time to expend large sums of money, as £.100.000 would go no further than £200,000 in normal times, and it would therefore be better to have a small rate. Mr Cox then moved, That the meeting approve of the scheme and support the Bill. 1 Chamberlain seconded, and after a brief speech by Mr Stevenson, who considered that there would be no end to the loans required, and that reclaimed land in New Plymouth would never get as valuable as that in tho two chief centres, the resolution was put and the count gave II for and against. Not oae of thosg who voted at previous meetings exercised his vote. The chairman gave 'his vote against the proposal.

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