HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1918, Page 3

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

STKOKGLY SUPPORTED AT-KOHTJ-RATAIII. There was an attendance of over 50 ratepayers of the No. 3 area at a meeting which was held in the Kohuratahi Hall yesterday to discuss the proposed scheme of harbor development in New Plymouth. Messrs Newton King (chairman) and J. McCluggage represented the Harbor Board. Mr W. A. Mc-Cutchan was voted to the chair, and, in formally introducing the. speakers, stated that the subject was one in which al! should be greatly interested, as it would bo of immense benefit to the district and would advance their welfare.

Mr. Newton King, in explaining the board's reasons for approaching ratepayers of the No. 3 area, Who were exempt by the previous Bill from any further loan, stated that conditions had changed entirely since 10 years ago, and since the arrival of the first Home liner the board had been asked by numerous ratepayers, including those in the third area, to provide additional facilities. He pointed out that while the hoard was .inxioii? to get the work done, it would probatory be six or eight months before the preliminaries could he arranged. He then explained the proposals, pointing out that it was not intended to borrow the whole £300.000 at once, but to raise it in sums of .-040,000 or £50,000 as required, probably in the Dominion- If the loan was carried, there would be no rate to pav on the old loan, but, if not, there would be a small rate, because it would be necessary to take the available profits from the woi-kinj account i7i order to keep the dredge goin™. and thnre would not be so much available to place against the interest of the previous loan, as had been done during the past few years'. The shipping companies had agreed 10 years ago to send their direct boats in, providing there was either 1000 tons of exports or imports available. It was not, however, until the meat works at Smart Road were established that the outward cargo was available. The shipping companies then approved of what had been ilonc and had sent six ships to take meat. Before they would nttreo to send their lnrjrer and timc'-tablo boats, they required 800 ft additional to be added to the breakwater and also some shelter. There was" sufficient water avails He now, and the hoard were anxious to provide the necessary shelter, etc., which

the shipping companies required. Farmer-- would recognise the savings to be effected on manure, salt, etc., which

would be more than sufficient to pay the interest on the loan, and that was without dealing with the export of meat, etc., and as farmers interested in the rc'at company they would resognise the splendid position their works wore in by ►their close proximity to the port, and when machinery was installed to daal with by-nrodncts the works would be the finest in the Dominion, Regarding their liability, he pointed out that though the No. 3 *r?a represented nearlv half of the valuation of the district, its liability was comparatively small being %d in the £ on the amount of interest provided for in the Bill viz., £21,301. Their share would be £5~&~, but as the interest wa-s limited to £IS,OOO, their share would be reduced to £<ir>o(v On a valuation of £2OOO, this would mean a rate nf £-2 Is Sd at v,d, or $1? Sd if the full rate possible was levied. With tho increased trade and increasing value of the endowments, he did not consider that a rate would be necessary. They were liable also to a very small rate on the previous loan, so small indeed that in many cases it would not be worth collecting, as the bulk oi it was covered by allocations from the land fund and profits. He then explained the plan at considerable length.

Mr. McQlugage, who was suffering from influenza, was unable to address the meeting.

The chairman then invited questions Mr. Coxhead a.skc-d how a rubble wall was going to stand in shifting sand against such a strong current as prevailed between Moturoa and the mainland.

Mr. King stated that there would be no difficulty over this.

Mr. Coxhead stated that the present iirer.lnvater was running with the current, whereas trfe wall to Moturoa was at right angles. Wairoa was on the same principle and had "gouo out -" Mr Kins; stated that the engineer was perfectly satisfied with the foundations. In replv to further questions, Mr Kins stated that the present harbor was dredjed right to the conglomerate. In the channel it would not 1;c necessary to dredge to the rock. Mr- King also explained the boundaries of the different areas stating that the vote in Nos. 1 and 2 areas would he taken together and No. 0 area separately. Tf either turned it down, the Bill would be dropped. There had been no adverse criticism to trie scheme, even from their hitterest opponents. The Question to be looked at' was that Taranaki must have an ocean-going port and link itself up with the outside world. The chances of a rate were very small, tat even if the rate were struck they would gladly pay it in view of tha saving." Mr. Coxhead asked how New Plymouth Harbor du?s compared with other ports Mr. King stated that the dues were , cheapf?. Mr. Coxhead pointed out that he had found it cheaper to ship his wool via Waitara. The chairman stated that that was due to the direct shipment from Waitarp He added that it had been found cheaper to rail wool from the Waitara wharf and ship it at New Plymouth a 9 compared with barging it to the Waitara Roadftcad, that it was cheaper to loaA at a port than a Toadstead. Tt was tho intention of the Harbor Board to provide sheds and dump for handling wool as soon as possible, so as to lie in a position to cope with the wool, "twelve months after the War." There was not the slightest dovbt that all the wool from Taranaki would be shipped through New Plymouth later on, tat up to the present the board had liad to spend all its available money on constructive workThere would be no need to ship wool at when they would get the sains rate from New Plymouth sa from Wellington Mr. Coxhead asked whether it would not suit the liners better to load at the Waitara roadstead than to nay the liaroor dues at New Plymouth. Mr. King said the harbor dues on ocean liners at New Plymouth was very loni s«t {he answer to t&e queathn U.j

in the fact that the shipping companies wanted to come to New Plymouth. No sh-.ppmg company would be anxious to load in an open roadstead if there was a safe port within 10 miles. Compared with other ports, the wharfage dues at New Plymouth wore low. On manures, general merchandise, "etc., the charge at K T ew Plymouth was 2s per ton, as against 3s at Wellington,

Mr. McGeever then moved—"That this meeting of ratepayers of the Whangamomona district in the No. 3 area of the New Plymouth 'Harbor rating diutrict, having heard the addresses of members of the New Plymouth Harbor Hoard in connection with the prsposed further development of the endorses the proposals, and expresses its opinion that the early under diking of the necessary works is a matter of foremost importaucs to the welfare of the province.

This was seconded by Mr. W. Gleeson. 'itfr Coxhead considered that ratepayers should he given an opportunity to digest the proposals before being asked to vote.

The chairman said that, as a settler In the district, he considered the proposal was no new matter. For several weeks past members of the board had been addressing meetings, especially in the third area, and these meetings had been fully reported in the press- He considered that a resolution should he passed as at other meetings, giving an indication of the opinion of the district. The resolution, on being put', was carried without dissent. Votes of thanks to the members of the hoard and the chair terminated the meeting.