THE HARBOR PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1918, Page 3

THE HARBOR PROPOSALS.

STRONG SUPPORT AT WHANGA- ■ MOMONA. There was a representatirn gathering of ratepayers of the Wluuigamomoiia district at the meeting yesterday, convened by tlie chairman and members of the New Plymouth Harbor Board to discuss the proposed scheme of haybor development. Messrs. Newton King (chairman) and ,(. MeCluggage represented tlie beard. Mr. Geo. Cue was voted to the chair, and, iu formally introducing the delegation, remarked that the scheme was an important factor in the future progress of the district, and, as such, was worthy of their most careful consideration. Mr. Newton King placed the matter concisely and clearly before the ratepayers on similar lines its at previous meetings. He pointed out that the whole responsibility of the scheme being carried out or not rested on the ratepayers of the No. J! area. He referred to the position of the port now, arid the splendid work that had been done with the previous loan, enabling the harbor to accommodate certain classes of Home liner?. The saving by direct shipping on manures and benzine alone would more than pay any rate if it ever became necessary to strike one. They had been told recently by tlie superintendent of a shipping company that they should go ahead with the proposed development so as to take tlie largest boats that traded 10 New Zealand—boats of 11,500 tons. That was the Harbor Board's idea in raising the loan., He submitted that the whole prosperity of the district centred in having a deep-water port, available in all weathers. He did not think there was any probability of a rate, because the district was progressing, and so waa the board's revenue. Its endowments, also, were increasing in value, and with the speedy carrying-out of the scheme would rapidly increase further. Mr. McCluggage said that there was a misunderstanding in the country about the last loan of .£300,000. The board had not expended all tiiat loan, for after the old loan was paid off and the dredge purchased it had ,€td,ooo available. Out of this it had lengthened the breakwater, provided wharf accommodation, dredged the harbor and provided a sinking fund of OO.fIOO. He contended that the board had expended the money wisely and well, and could therefore approach the ratepayers with confidence on this occasion. He therefore urged all to support the scheme.

Mr. A. Milne, manager of the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company, stated that the interests of the- freezing works and the harbor were inseparably bound up together. The Tarauaki Freezing Works were generally admitted to be move favorably situated for the shipment of their produce than any other works, save, perhaps, Auckland. *A good deal of their success would depend on adequate shipping facilities being provided. In normal times, when the company would dispose of its moat c.i.f., delivery within a specified time was essential, and to permit of this the harbor must be able to lake any class of vessel that, traded to New Zealand. They had at. their back a vast "area of undeveloped country, which, after the war, would make trjmendous strides. Tliey had had enough o)' (he old policy of sending settlers on the land without roading facilities, and after the war a progressive Public Works policy would be demanded by the people, and they must have the shipping facilities to keep up with that development. The Taranaki Farmers' Freezing Works, in a few years, he considered, would be as large "as any in the North Island. la reply to questions, the chairman stated that there would be no difficulty in keeping the harbor clear of sand with the dredge. They had now one of the finest approaches to a harbor in New Zealand. The Panama Canal, which had 40 feet of water, would be the deciding factor in the draught of vessels trading to New Zealand. " i Mr. C. Grant then moved, and Mr. L. Smith seconded: That this meeting of ratepayers in the Whangamomona district, being in the No. ", area, after Hearing the addresses of the cliairman of the New Plymouth Harbor Board and Mr. McCluggage, approve of the board's development scheme as prepared by Mr. Blair Mason, considering that it is a move in the right direction, and that in their own interests, as well as in the interests of Taranaki as a whole, the settlers promise to give the proposals everv support. Mr. \V. A. McCutchan, in supporting the resolution, said that with the extension of the franchise to women at Home there was nothing surer than that in the future (he government of the country would he taken out of the hands of the privileged classes and placed in the hands of the Labor Party, and it was part of that party's programme to improve all the harbors in England. If harbors in an old country like that required improvement, he considered that it was imperative that a country like New Zealand—only in the second g;-iy oral ion of settlers—should show a similar spirit of enterprise, otherwise it would be left behind in the competition that would come after the war. Moreover, there would be heavy taxation to meet, and they rmiM. be prepared to meet it. Their district was a pastoral one, and with its development a liarbor was "ssenlitil. He agreed that tiiern would be immense developments in the country, which would not any longer tolerate the Government's past policy of opening up the land without providing access. This, lie considered, was the outstanding feature Mr. Milne's address. There would be a change in the Government, as young and energetic men were required.' i'erring to the development of the works, he considered tiiciv position was unique., for their prospects of success wen; ;:s assured as it was/humanly possible for anything to be. In conohidinsr. he urged all to do their best for the district, which was certainly worthy of their best of-' forts. The resolution was then carried unanimously. Mr. King, i:i reluming thanks, | all to record ihtir voles at the poll.