The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1920. INCREASED SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1920. INCREASED SHIPPING FACILITIES.

The ease which the recent deputation, representing the New Plymouth Harbor Board, the Farmers' Meat Works and the Producers' Freezing Works, had to lay before the shipping authorities in Wellington recently, relative to the urgent need for improved shipping facilities at Moturoa, was a strong one, and it is not surprising to learn that the interview proved very satisfae-i tory. The report made by the chairman of the Harbor Board at Friday's meeting, and endorsed by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, conveys a clear impression of the position of affairs as affecting the future of the port. The three main requirements, so far as Taranaki is concerned, are: Larger ships, regular service, and direct importations of goods from overseas to be brought to New Plymouth by the liners which call at the port to load Taranaki produce. One of the gratifying results of the interview is the statement that the companies are anxious to bring their boats to the port, but they naturally require the provision of adequate shelter. The fact that Captain Chudley made a promise to send larger vessels here immediI ately shelter was provided and the 200 feet extension of the breakwater was carried out, shows that the matter now rests with the Board, and it may confidently be assumed that the latter will do all in its power to expedite the works necessary to permit of the larger liners being berthed at Moturoa. Possibly after Captain Chudley's promised visit, about Easter, it will be definitely known to what extent the service can be improved in consequence of the increased depth of the fairway and. turning space, together with such temporary shelter as can be provided by the erection of sheds or other protection from high winds. It is of the greatest importance to Taranaki to have a regular service of overseas vessels calling at the port, and it is quite possible the Board may be able to secure this boon by meeting the requirements of the companies. It is reasonable to assume that if sufficient inducement is offered to justify the landing of imports at the wharf, this would have an appreciable effect on obtaining a regular service. The matter is one that primarily depends on the importers of the province, and it may be taken for granted that if the whole of the importers in Taranaki study their best interests and co-operate whole-heartedly in calling upon their London and other overseas agents or suppliers to ship direct to New Plymouth as the distributing port, then it is likely the. authorities who control the outward freights in Britain and other places will comply with the request. With the shipping companies, as with the producers and importers, the governing factor (apart from secure berthage) is expense, so that an arrangement whereby both inward and outward cargo can be handled should be a payable proposition. At present many thousands are being sacrificed by the people of Taranaki swine to tin double handling of

goods and needless railway and coastal freights. There is ample trade at the present time to warrant a regular service and direct importations, while in the near future the volume will be greatly increased. The suggestion made by Mr. Wilkinson that the Chambers of Cpmmerce should bring pressure to bear on the shipping authorities in London relative to direct imports should commend itself to those bodies. The extension works at the harbor have been undertaken for the benefit of the whole of the large district served by the port. The shipping companies only stipulate for sufficient cargo and a reasonable measure of security. The producers and wholesale merchants are responsible for the former, and the Board for the latter. It only needs for all concerned to pull together, and the desired results will ensue. Already a larger class of ship is trading to the port than was previously the case, and the Board's engineer reports that the material which has been deposited at the end of the breakwater is now perceptibly breaking the swell at that point. Everything is being done to forward the progress of the work, and with the provision of shelter from the wind for the berthed vessels the facilities for shipping should be such as to encourage a regular service that will cope with present requirements, and year by year this can be enlarged as the harbor develops, and becomes one of the best and safest in the Dominion.