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Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1920, Page 4

BETTER SHIPPING FACILITIES. That a deputation representing the interests of the producers of Taranaki should wait upon the Now Plymouth Harbor Board for the purpose of urging concerted action in obtaining larger vessels to work the port at Moturoa, and to gat a more regular service, should occasion no surprise. During the three years since the port was opened to overseas vessels- - , the channel of the harbor has been made much wider, a greater depth of water secured, and tin; works now in progress are having an appreciable effect on the shelter available. The harbor master (Oitptab Waller) assured the. Board yesterday that, in anything like fair weather, he would be prepared to berth any vessel up to a draft of 23 feet, a depth which would enable most of the largest vessels employed in the overseas trade to work the port. The reasons given by the members of the deputation arc'cogent and convincing. Mr. Ouin emphasised the fact that an improved service of ocean steamers was vital to the successful development of the meat industry, while Mr. Brown drew attention to the time boing opportune to

press the claims brought before the Board, owing to the early expiration of the present contract between tlie shipping companies and the National Dairy Association, under which dairy produce is taken by small vessels to Wellington for transhipment. This arrangement was all very well when the harbor was only. capable of accommodating the coastal steamers, but it entailed a high cost for insurance, and at times produce got shut out. The harbor improvements have enabled oversea vessels of a certain clafs to work the port, and the chairman of the Board stated that when an extra (i()0 fc>t of breakwater protection was provided, the shipping companies would send here the largest class of boats trading to New Zealand. Meanwhile there is no question that much larger steamers than those at present being sent here can be safely handled, and it is satisfactory to find the Board is quite in accord with the desire to secure vessels of larger tonnage, and is prepared to co-operate in pressing the claims of the port on the shipping companies. The case is so strong that success should certainly crown the efforts of the combined bodies to obtain the facilities that are urgently needed. The shipping companies will naturally be guided by the question of whether it will pay, and on this ground there should be no room for doubt. The element of risk is practically non-exist-ent. The action taken by the deputation is timely and praiseworthy, and the Board may certainly be relied upon to do all in its power to assist not only the producers of Taranaki, but the importers as well. The claims put forward are so just and reasonable that they should commend themselves to the shipping companies concerned.