HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1918, Page 7

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

• . (SUBPQKXBD..AT, EAgQTU, AN ADVOCATE' H>^. OPUNAKE. There was an attendance o£*about!:3o ratepayers at Rahotu, on Tuesday evening to hear and discuss the proposals as outlined by members of the New Plymouth Harbor Board f-ortue development of the port -of Taranaki. Mr, W, R. Wright, county chairman, was voted to the chair, And said the members of the board who were present had come to Eahotu not for their.own benefit, but for the benefit of the people of tie district. Anyone who had studied the scheme must know that harbor development would put money in their pockets. But for the harbor things would not be what they were that day. What were their cattle worth before they got uiarbor facilities? Even if they had to pay a. rate they would still be the gainers. He iiad always held that sea power was the greatest power, and to them it was the cheapest power in the way of transport. Ho did not think that anyone in Eahotu would turn down the. scheme.

Mr. Newton King prefaced his remarks by stating that two years ago the Bill then brought down contained a clause that the ratepayers of No. 3 area should be exempt from liability in future loans, but conditions had changed since then, as they had had the Home liners at the Wharf, and they had also had expressions of opinion from hundreds of ratepayers in the No. 3 area intimating their willingness to come in and assist again. I A Bill had accordingly been drafted in connection with the proposed loan, which 'contained the same clause. He pointed out that the principle of differential rating had been kept in the present Bill, the boundaries of the various areas not being altered. It was necessary to have tho whole district included in order to have security so as to raise the money on the best terms. He then outlined the advantages to be derived from the harbor.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., stated that it was refreshing to have a chairman who was a whole-hearted supporter of the scheme, which the speaker considered was a fine one. He (bad held for years that the province required a port to accommodate Home liners. He referred to the loan raised ten years ago, prior to which there was a heavy rate; but since then they had obtained a better harbor and had paid no rate. The present loan provided that they s'hould have a still better harbor, and he considered that for years they would have not rate to pay, and possibly never. Even the maximum rate would be as nothing compared with the benefits to be received. Some changes had been made in the previous scheme, but all were beneficial, as was proved bv t'lie fact that Home liners had already berthed there. Vessels had already taken meat, but they looked forward to the vessels taking dairy produce direct, thus doing away with the rough handling now given dairy produce at Wellington. Some people were apt to belittle the province, but while it was not large it was very fertile, Us exports being not less than £3,000,000. The rate on t'he old loan, if struck, would in the third area amount to ahmU 12s Sd on a 100 acre farm valued at £lO per acre. He wanted them to go in for the scheme and obviate the collection ol la rate, as he estimated it would cost £IOOO to collect about £SOOO in rate.:. The third area, he pointed out, would get the benefits of the harbor at the least possible cost, and the scheme would not be gone on with unless approved by the third area. He referred to the valuable endowments, and also to the increasing valuation of the district. Touching on the trade and development of the port, he pointed out that up to the present the board had concentrated its efforts on deepening the 'harbor. When money was available, dumping sheds, etc., would be provided, so that wool would be shipped. He considered the board's work in the past justified them in asking ratepayers to give them their confidence. Mr. Maxwell outlined the scheme from the plan at some length, stating that it was expected that in three years, the necessary shelter required by the shipping companies would be provided. He referred to the value of the reclaimed land, which, in addition, would provide land-locked shelter and give an additional 1300 feet of berthage. The scheme would convert the harbor from a good coastal port to one of the main ports of the Dominion. The Harbor Board was warranted in estimating that it would be the fifth port, and he personally considered that it would be the fourth, or even the third, port in the Dominion. They had the assurance of the shipping companies that as soon as their requirements were carried out they would send their regular and large liners here to take their dairy produce away and also .bring their imports. One of the first works would be the reclamation of eight acres on the sea front, and they "had already had applications tor sites on this. Referring to the need ior a rate if the loan were not carried, Mr Alaxwell stated it co.-t £OOOO to run the dredge, in order to do construction work, not maintenance work. Hie unnnal visit to Wellington alone cost £3OOO . The dredge must be kept in full commission, and to do so they must have additional funds, because £j.)oo of their revenue had been allocated to the payment of interest and sinking fund. He was assured that the™ would be sufficient trade to warrant ortniglitij visit- of ocean liners, and with the normal increase that mig'ht be anticipated through the development of the province, this should soon develop mto a wck one. He considered there would be no rale struck for a number of years. Mr T S Connett said that opponents of "the scheme contended it was oO years ahead of the times. His idea was that Taranaki was very much b.'.nnd the times in its ports. In br,njji n S « . such a scheme they wanted to be a*M, 1 that the trade of the port was sufficient and that they were proceeding on t t Hit lin«s. At present there, was availnroducc each fortnight, oi. it t ■<> "' ,t three or four of the ii l ",nn tons aval able lorilliero would be U™ «'"-' ' l . , „;.,|,tlv for eight or nine mom In- it W vV, 2 of sent it, produce mafte pood its claim to be th lad-, nort of Taranaki, and all should icaiiM hUntever good.could mobtaine rL other ports should b,aU.oean ;; obtained, but for the mam poll ot law nal-i thev should central.se at New Llj mout!h It was said they were taking r * tremendous liability m raising £3OO 000 at this time, but he pointed onttta? this was only equal oabou £1 fi er crate oft one yew's »utpn..ot|

cheese in Taranaki. Dairy companies also had during the war put about £IOO,OOO m providing cool storage, and had not made a. song about it, though in some instances they had arranged to wipe it-off in two or three years The first loan of £200,000 'had been, raised on a valuation of £1,500,000, the last loan of £300,000 on a valuation of £8,500,000, whilst the present valuation was between £11,000,000 and £12,000 ■ 000, with .the probability of a large increase on a new valuation. He claimed that the proposal was on sound lines and not too ambitious. Taranaki was of such importance as to warrant them saying that it should have an oceangoing port of its own, and he asked ratepayers to give the board the necessary backing.

Mr. Wilkinson said it was expected taat tho railway from Opunake to Te Roti would be authorised during the forthcoming session of Parliament. It was the intention of the Government, if authorised, to place a larger number of returned soldiers thereon. THE DISCUSSION. In reply to several questions by Mr. Gibson, Mr. King explained the nature' of the land fund. It was not proposed to pay off any of the old loan, which was provided for by sinking fund. The shipping companies would not send their larger boats to New Plymouth until the work asked for was done.

Mr. Gibson asked why the coastal people had to pay the railway 5s to 7s per ton for carting their goods from the wharf to New Plymouth, entailing also additional back haulage, instead of being able to cart direct from the wharf.

Mr. King stated this had been a burning question for years. In the new scheme slieds on the wharves were provided for, and they would then be able to cart direct from the wharf. Moreover, the proposed junction of the coastal railway was close to Moturoa. Mr. T. P. Hughson, chairman of the Opunake Harbor Board, congratulated the New Plymouth Board on their forward move. He was satisfied that harbor facilities would make for the advancement of the town and the district. The scheme outlined of gradual development was a good one, and was not ahead of the times, because it was well to look forward and provide for the future. With the development of the harbor the development of the district would follow, and the increased volume of exports and imports should give revenue to pay for t'be increased outlay. He did not much fear the levying of the rate, but if a shortage did occur, he suggested it would be preferable to slightly increase the wharfage so as to provide the revenue required. This would be distributed over the three areas equitably and would be more easily collected than a rate.

While recognising the benefit of New Plymouth as a main port, Mr. Hughson said he wanted to note that they had in close proximity the port of Opunake, which, he felt, was the port for Rahotu and Pungarehu. Mr. Connett had said that small ports were a good thing. He did not wish to stir up dirty water, but he considered the action taken by the New Plymouth Harbor Board in connection with the promotion of the Opunake Harbor Bill had practically killed Opunake's chance of getting a harbor. It had been shown that'the rateable value of the New Plymouth harbor district was £l2,ooo.ooo,'and if there were a new valuation it would be in the vicinity of £20,000,000, and he therefore considered that when Opunake wished to have an area valued at £2,000.000 set apart for the erection oi its harbor it was a selfish act on the part of New Plymouth Harbor Board to oppose the Bill and cut the area valuation down to £1,000,000. He could show that the Opunake harbor would be a great benefit to their part of the district, and thought they should have consideration in the matter. He was satisfied that every part of this large harbor district should undertake harbor responsibilities in some district, and it would be an equitable and righteous act on t'he part of the New Plymouth Harbor Board to submit to the people within a radius of twenty miles of Opunake a referendum whether they would be ineluded in tlic New Plymouth or Opunake district. This would settle the point whether they would kill the Bill or not. He did not wish to dilate on the material advantages of Opunake * bay, but submitted figures w'hich showed the saving in the cost of transit via Opunake with a harbor aa compared with New Plymouth by road. This showed that on coal, flour, sugar, grain, general goods and manure, the cartage to Rahotu from New Plymouth was 35s per ton and from Opunake 13s, a saving of 22s per ton, whilst to Pungarehu the saving would be 10s. Even on manure by direct boat to New Plymouth transhipped via Opunake there would be a saving of 7s per ton to Rahotu. When the railway was through from Moturoa to Opunake, he estimated there would be a saving on flour, oats, wheat, and manure of 3s per ton via Opunake, of 13s on sugar and soap, and on other items corresponding', or an average saving of 0s 10id to Rahotu and 4s 4d to Pungarehu. On these figures he maintained that Opunake was the proper port for Rahotu and Pungarehu, and it was a reasonable proposition that they should be given a chance to help in that direction. The bulk of the goods they used were colonial, viz., flour, oats, manure, cement, and coal; the latter particularly would be required in large quantities, and if facilities were provided for landing it at Opunake it would be a great benefit to the district. Regarding cheese, there was a difference of 3s !)d, or 100 per cent, in favor of railage to Opunake. Of course the whole question hinsed on the payment of coastal freight. Tf this were discontinued. New Plymouth would have the advantage, but a good deal of produce eould be sent from Opunake to New Plymouth by boat for transhipment to Home liners, so that the Opunake harbor would not be detrimental to New Plymouth, but would be a 'help. He was pleased to note the remarks made, by the member for the district, but. he wanted to point out that that district was too small to launch the scheme proposed, and it was the opposition of the New Plymouth Harbor Board that had killed it. If thev had been able to launch it with a liability of half the rate it would have gone through and the district would have been able to save thousands of pounds, not onlv on freights, but in rates for the maintenance of roods. He had no opposition to the New Plymouth scheme, and as a ratepayer in the first and second areas lie would back it up. but also as a ratepayer of that district lie had a perfect right to support <t s/dieme which he considered would be of greater benefit to his district. " Mr. Wilkinson said the Harbor Board would consider the question of raising: the wharfage, but they had to be carefill lest, a loss of trade might result. He considered that Mr. Huslison in 1 limiting thorn for not wishing to swallow the Opunake district and then wanting Opunake to swallow them was not logical. j A voice: Jonah swallowing the whale! Mr. Wilkinson, continuing, said that in-

WOS he stated that he favored a reasonable area near Opunako being set apart for t'iic development of Opnnake harbor, is he believed that Opunake port should have protection. ■Mr. Hughson: Do you think the present a reasonable area? / Mr. ■Wilkinson said that at tile time the Bill was introduced the district was not defined, but it had since been defined. Possibly when the railway came some items would be Janded cheaper at Ra'hotu and Puugarehu via Opunake, but New Plymouth was out for a bigger scheme in order to save on the bulk°of their imports from overseas the payment of toll to Wellington and Auckland. The New Plymouth scheme could not be delayed because Opunake had an idea concerning the future.

Mr. Maxwell said the New Plymouth Board desired all t,he small porta to progress, because the more wayside ports the better it would be for the overseas port.

Mr. Wilkinson said they had been asked why Opunake district, which would get the benefits of the New Plymouth harbor, should not -be included and made to pay its share, and they had been urged ito include it, but ha'd resolutely refused to interfere; but now, to t'iieir amazement, they were faced by the chairman of the Opunake Harbor Board, who boldy said: "We want another sliop of your district!" On the Wnimate plafns the argument was used that Opunake district did all its shipping through New Plymouth and did not pay /„ halfpenny. Mr. King considered Mr. Hughson was "trying to take a rise out of them." In South Taranaki they had been met with the argument that they had left Opunake and Waitara out of their -district. Probably Mr. Hughson was wrong in his estimated savings. :is th<-K- wove advantages regarding insurance at New Plymouth. So far there had no argument against the scheme. Personally he would like to see Opunake get a harbor and boats trade between Now Plymouth and Opunake. He had tried to arrange this previously, but the wharfage precluded it. Mr. Gibson, as one living on the fringe of the district, said that Opunake had certain advantages, hut the great thing in the New Plymouth scheme .was that it had something to s'how, whereas Opunake had not, and he did not think the Harbor Board would be justified in handing over any of its rights to any other district. Neither lie nor his fellow directors would consider sending their ila«y produce to Opunake for transhipment to New Plymouth when for a few extra shillings they could put it direct into the works at New Plymouth. They knew from bitter experience the cost of multi-handling of dairy produce Another matter of importance to the coast was that the development of the port .of New Plymouth meant Mat a railway around the coast was an absolute necessity.

Mr. W. C. Green then moved: "That this meeting of ratepayers of the No. S area, having heard tho proposed scheme for harbor development explained by: the chairman and members of the New Ily* month Harbor Board, (heartily approve of the scheme, and urge the board to as speedily as possible take the necessary steps to carry the scheme into effect." Mr. G'ibson seconded. Mr. Hnghson moved an amendment to the effect that a referendum of ratepayers outside of the present Opunake harbor rating area, and within a radius of '2O miles from file flag-staff at Opiinake, in the third "New Plymouth area, bo taken indicating whether they will be included in the Opunake or New Plymouth harbor area. Mr. Wilkinson asked whether the amendment cut both ways. If the ratepayers elected to come into New Plymouth district, did it mean that the Opunake district went out? He did not think that in this Mr. Hnghson was voicing the feelings of his fellow members.

Mr.■-TTiighson said the amendment only] applied Id the portion within the third area of New Plymouth. If they did not I agree, to -come in Opunake would remaiiv as it is. Mr. King said 'lie had had expressions of opinion from several who wore anxious to get out of Opunake if. given a chance. The amendment on being put, was. lost, only tho mover and seconder voting in its favor. The resolution wa^/fchen^ ... *r j^.