THE OPUNAKE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1918, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE PORT.

It is a mistake to think that there is any clashing of interests between the New Plymouth harbor and Opunake, On the contrary, the interests are common. Sea carriage is always cheaper than any other form of transit, and if Opunake and district could obtain their requirements by boat a great saving would be effected. Removed as the district is from the railway, the present cost of -jansit imposes a severe handicap that ii.be felt more and more as the scsJ ;.s.increasingly go in for _ip. the use of which the land thereabouts so readily responds. It is in the interests of New Plymouth that Opunake should have a good, workable port, because with the establishing of direct shipping most of the iertiliflecs,. merchandise and tin.

plies for the whole of the province will como via Moturoa, and the cheaper the freight rates the hetter for everyone concerned. One of the chief obstacles to the starting of a coastal steamer service with headquarters at New Plymouth has been the absence of sorting sheds, etc., at Moturoa, but the new scheme provides for thorn. There is no reason, therefore, why the coastal shipping I scheme should not be launched as soon as the loan is carried. The advantages |of such a service are obvious. Not only Opunake, but Patea, Wanganui, right up to Hokianga (including Mokau and Raglan), and down to Westport could be served. New Plymouth is most centrally situated for distribution, but the proper facilities must first be provided. Opunake lias suffered in the past because of the difficulty of berthing at the jetty in a choppy sea. What could be simpler than for a boat stationed in New Plymouth to run down on a fine day with a cargo? The journey would take three hours. Quite different for boats stationed at Wellington, Nelson or Onehimga, which have their regular timetables, and can only call at Opunake if the weather conditions are favorable, thereby missing the port for weeks at a stretch. As a feeder for New Plymouth, Port Opunake is most conveniently placed, and the two ports should work together, and never against one another. It must be said that members of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, during the present campaign, have not uttered one word that could be construed as inimical to the interests or development of the Opunake port, realising, as they do, that the interests of both places are bound up together; but we are sorry to be unable to say that this correct attitude has not prevailed with all those connected with Opunake, who have taken up a pettifogging, dog-in-inanger attitude towards the New Plymouth proposals that can do no possible good. We are not referring in this connection to the position taken up by the chairman of the Opunake Harbor Board at Eahotu last week. He was quite justified in presenting Opunake's case as fully and strongly as he could, and though at times he was not quite logical or convincing, Mr. Hughson's remarks should lead to a better understanding of Opunake's viewpoint, and appreciation of its legitimate aspirations. The one thing always to keep in mind is that the interests of a deep-sea port at Moturoa and a coastal port at Opunake are identical, and, this being the case, support for each should be undivided.