HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1918, Page 5

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

UNANIMOTjIS SUPPORT AT . STRATFORD. There was a representative attendance of about 100 ratepayers at the Stratford Town Hall last night, when the proposed harbor development scheme was placed before them by the chairman and members of the New Plymouth Harbor Board. Hie Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Millan) presided, and tHere were on the platform Messrs Newton ,King (chairman), C- AWilkinson, M.P., C. E. Bellringer, D. J. Hughes, C. E. M'Guinness, J. S. Connett, J- Hughes, and J. M -I Cluggage (members of the Harbor Board), and Mr. Blair Mason (engineer). The speakers were most attentively listened to, there being no interruptions, and it was evident that the ratepayers were in complete accord willi the board in their desire-to provide adequate harbor facilities for the province.

The Mayor (Mi-. J. W. JfMfflan). said that Stratford should be as much interested in the scheme as New Plymouth, because a port at New Plymouth would place Stratford in the same comparative position as places a similar distance from Auckland or Wellington. It was a pity the whole <%f Taranaki, was not united in helping the board in its scheme to push the port ahead. Other ports should not be neglected, but, in the interests of Taranaki,' everyone should heartily support the board in bringing the proposals to a successful, conclusion.^ Mr. Newton King (chairman of the board) briefly outlined the object of the meeting, and stated that everyone recognised Taranaki should have a, deepsea porlj. He contrasted the position 10 years ago, when the present .loan was raised, with the position to-day, when, as the result of the prudent expenditure of the. money, ocean liners ofjthe first and second class had been able to come to the port. Some people considered they should remain as they were at present, but if they did not go in for a further loan they could not expect the two larger classes of vessel, and until they did so they could not expect to export their dairy produce direct. The board was not able to force the No. 3 area to accept liability . All it could do was to ask them to join in malting a port for Taranaki. It remained to be seen whether the}- would come in or not, hut he had no doubt they would. Strat. ford was in the No. 2 area. It had been said that the board should levy a rate,, some said for the full amount if necessary, and utilise the revenue for development purposes, but these people should know that a largo portion of the revenue was pledged for payment of the interest, so that the Tate could only be struck to produce £SOOO. Ho did not think any rate would be necessary, but it was desired that the whole harbor district, valued at £1(1,000,000, should be included in order to get the money at the best'rate. The value of direct ping had already been demonstrated ljjf the saving on manures, salt, etc., wh\ch he estimated at fully 15s per ton. He considered that Taranaki mercharits should have the same opportunity of having direct import as had those at Auckland and Wellington. It must be admittted that a deep-sea harbor was a necessity for Taranaki, and he claimed that everyone in Taranaki would benefit thereby, Mr, 0, $, Wilkinson considered the present schome was a great one. TaranV.ci was the richest province in New Zealand, and its exports if pushed and sent through the same port put Taranaki in the position of the fifih exporting port of the Dominion, They were at present depending on coastal shipping, with the delay* and damage .caused by transhipment, and this etate of affairs should not he allowed to con? •finite any longer than' possible, Ten years ago they had a heavy rate to pay an 4 an indifferent port, and when they approached the ratepayers in connection with the £800;000 loan they were met with the same opposition as at present. However, the result -was that no rate had'fceen struck, and, in addition, a flinkinjj fund of over £30,000 had been established. The board's policy had proved a, success, and its expenditure wise and prudent, with the result that they had now got a good Jine-wcrtther port. * They were now out to make it a port that a. liner would forth-at in-any weather.

The saung in imports, ho would be not k»s than £1 per said the proposed bcheme was from an engineering and financial of view. Tnc prospects were riTor*l|'|nHß and the question vias: Had ttpraSSßH faith and courage to carry Ha pointed out that in the loan not being raised a small rate have to be struck, on a, probable of £2OOO. This would mean third area, 7-50 d in the second l-Sd in the first area. whole rate on the proposed loan* be struck —which was an utter bilit.v— it would mean £8250 in tHS>MHjH ond area on a valuation of The poll would be taken s eparfyteM§iraß each area, and if the poll failed area the whole scheme would up. Thu valuation jf 'the increased from in nearly £12,000.000 today, and in iO years would probably be £2o,ooosfi||H No wool had been exported over %j!9h wharf, because the board had trated the whole of its effort?!' Wi%HH harbor itself, and had not been «Ue9|| expend the money to provide wwUvlbkmH and dump, but wese would beJ>p6i||H^| Mr Wilkinson briefly touched QJ&fjiffiH coastal freight; question- At New mouth they could have the finest B£R3H§H sial harbor in New ZealaTd, !§i|M| brute they had been paying tc ton, Auckland, and other places '&ffi|||H be avoided if they put their ■this scheme. The members of were unanimous in supporting it; considered their services entitled' to the confidence of the Q^JB Mr. C. E Bellringer stated that board considered that as tie Would benefit by the scheme it !>car a share of the liability,, ft 1 impossible to get direct imports <3r,!j|gj|fl ports unless they had regular ing here, and to do that certain ments were required. Ths of the harbor had appealed so TS'.nir Mason that be saw th» opporttnJs||H to do the great work of bis life OT3;TOwE|M .accepted the position of resident r.eer He deprecated the policy'.of*ifaM||M ing until after the war, coßßide?ing ffiu| they should make-provision now trade which would oome after i{he It was estimated that tho girnnal e*Wflf|M diture would he £4f1,000, W that was no possibility of;a heavy the lonn was not raised,' a Ta t«"wif™raß have to be struck, .is the dredge woraljH tieed to work all Ihc year, 'though 'affllsH could keep the harbor clear in third of ibis time. So far be Taranaki had but toweHed the frrnga-'jMJH it l ) resources, and tho developments|aHj the next 10 years would /be ir&nrtei||9 greater ihan in thepast decade. .^'.'llU Mr Blair Mason touched on thfe-impM mersc prospects of the district need for a deep-sea port. He Gon&dsHHgH that in three years the riocweary could be provided. He then scheme by means of the plan, an 4 most attentively followed. . v 'f In reply to Mr. Pitt, the engineer S&I§U ed that when the whole scheme W*P <sw|9 ploted there would be very little *3N§9a tion of sand in the harbor?" '*' -ImW Mr. T. C. Eookes moyed—"TJtat meting of ratepayers thank tte.TOemramlM of the Harbor Board for the lucid satisfactory explanation of the development scheme at Moturoa, propscs its hearty sympathy witb' iairaraM cordial support of the proposed nW&lB Mr. P. Thomson, in seconding, sawil thM, he had seen Mr. Blair Mason's Wpr3£'jM in Otago, and ratepayers could put tW£l fullest confidence in hia scheme. TMajß personnel of the Harbor Board also WijjM upirod confidence. He considered fctfJaß province would'npver regret having M£|H ''rrtaken thU ?cherac. -^PiSaM Mr. E. Marfell, after asking one';&ln| two questions regarding rcvenne, ,< , (hat he fully endorsed the scheme, ■'•'yH Mr Masters, as a business roan, s {4d||s he appreciated very much the InfpnnjfrgjM Lion thai had been given by tile diatrJiH man and members of the board. XylfiralM ing at the question from A provinttiiaOM ,ioint of view_he knew of no othfiT riMSJJH that was going to gain more thanStraffilß ftirfl. ft hid 'on'ideTarJio JmlojragjSß partly developed, and undeveloped land,4Pi9 its hack, and when the whole of-the. due™ from the Ohura came through hffAjfl Stratford must benefit greatly, Whatever happened in other dUttfet&'.'n«jjH hoped Stratford would «how its &PPJ6s|§B Nation bv supporting-the, pp-al. -Hi' ccnsidcrcd (Mr. l^g { Sra|JM under-e'limated the caving in> which he placed 1 at 1"? per ton.' la.'Qttyfl past two months two shipments cf bcraiisj rino had arrived, and-he ventured that reprciented a saving of £26X!O/'jj&fflH that Ihpv could vorv well'affflrd to a rate if thev had one. He tirsed all to support tho proposal: V'J£9 Mr. Cro=son al=o spoke in favor. ■' ifsH The ehnirman staled that it ■T?flS'i&sM complimoTit to the board's full explana'tjJOT tion of tho scheme that so few qiieati'qnflaM The resolution wa l ? then carried unaitjM A vote of thanks to the chair ated the proceedings. "? >'fKJJ|B