HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1918, Page 7

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

SDPPOEIEI) AT NHWALLfKOAD. | That Newnll Road district is in com*plete sympathy with the aims of. t'.ie Harbor Board in desiring to provide a deep ::ea port for Taranaki was evident on Monday night, when there was a very good attendanco of ratepayers, including ladies, at a meeting held in the Newall Road schoolroom. Messrs J. 3. Connett and E. Maxwell Represented the Harbor Board. Mr A. Cassie "was voted to the chair, and in introducing the speakers, stated that ho considered tho meeting was one of the greatest importance not only to the district ana the surrounding dian iets but to the whole of Taranaki- ' Mr J. S. Connett, who was the first spaakw, spoke as to tho necessity for a deep sea port for Taranaki, and pointed out the uinount of produce that wus now available and outlined tho vast possibilities of the district. He &howed how the bonri! had carried out the trust impose 1 in it by ratepayers ten years ago in such a way as to merit it coming before ratepayers again with confidence liven if the £300,000 were raised at onco it would not bo & serious matter for such a fertile district. He considered the board's reasoning had been sound. They had the produce new to warrant Home boats calling fortnightly. If the ratepayers had confidence in tho board they should have no hesitation in supporting the board. He considered that it was apfwjcnt Taranaki required a deep sea port. Mr E. Maxwell, before dealing with the scheme, reviewed the position of the board as regards the third area, which had been excluded by the previous bill from further loans! He contrasted tlie position of the port prior to the raising of the present loan in 1008 with the present, and touched on the fight that he had made for the inclusion of differential rating, a principle that was recognised in the Bill now suggested. He showed that the utmost hopes of the board as expressed ten years ago had been realised and their undertakings regarding the levying of a rate had been carried out- It was important thac this should be borne in mind, because many of the same members were now on the board. Therefore lie considered they were justified in ssking ratepayers to give their present proposals serious consideration. He showed that ten years ago there was a berthage cf 15 feet with 12 feet in the channel with a wharf of 400 feet. They had sines extended tho breakwater 800 feet and had 'berthage at the wliaTf of Sfi feet at low tpring tides and had a I'hamtel and swinging basin of '2O feet 1.w.8.t. with a rise of 12 feet. He compared this with Timaru, which hud 22 feet low water at the entrance with a rise at hisjh tide of 6 feet. As far as constructive work was concerned their promises were more than realised., He then explained the scheme at lengt'f, pointing out whjt was required to allow of regular liners earning, as they were assured would be the case. He touched on the natural advantages of the harbor particularly as regarded direct communication with Australia. "With the great district the port would, serve, the produce now offering would be a mere fraction of what wonld. be availa'oß Thev were absolutely assured that the deep sea port could be Hide, that regular boats would come, and that sufficient cargo would he offering without touching on imports. He felt assured New Plymouth would be the first and last port of call for Sydney boats. This would mean iriuch additional trade but .had not been calculated when drawing up the estimates. In reply to the chairman Mr Maxwell stated that the period of the loan had not been fixed. The sinking fund was half per cen£. He thought the board was justified in fixing the sinking fund low, r.s it was only right that those who came after them and would receive the benefits should bear some of the liability-

In reply to the chairman .Mr. Maxwell said that provision was made in the scheme to allow of goods being taken delivery of at the wharf. Mr Cassie said that this question had been a burning one for years_ Ho fonrd that it cost nearly as much to get his goods railed from the wharf to T ew Plymouth as it did to freight them from Wellington.

Mr Maxwell stated that at one time the Harbor Board;' owned the Moturoa railway. Be also stressed the fact that the Te Boti-Moturoa line would ha constructed within the next few years and produce would he' railed direct from the Bhip down the coast. Mr. W. Rumball then moved: That this meeting of ratepayers in the No 3 area of the New Plymouth Hartwr Kstriet, realising the necessity for improved harbor accommodation at New Plymonth, heartily supports the schemes put forward by the JTew Plymouth Harbor Board, End trusts that it will be carried into effect at an early date.

Tn speaking to the motion, he said that they shonld not be content with a wayside port with all the disadvantages of double and treble handling of dairy produce, when they had such a comprehensive scheme submitted to them. They must either be prdgressive or retrogressive. If the requirements of the district grew and the harbor did not grow thr>v would go backMr J. Dueker seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried.