The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1920. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1920. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

The Harbor Board were well advised to take the public into their confidence on Friday over the position in regard to the harbor improvement scheme. The engineer's reports were of a comprehensive nature, and fully and frankly stated the position. A consideration of the report does not, as the chairman remarked, occasion a feeling of pessimism; rather one of optimism over the results already attained. It is the success of the harbor and the increase of trade that are causing concern. These really are healthy signs. The engineers explain that they have been considerably handicapped by the shortage of labor and the difficulty of obtaining material. These conditions obtain in connection with most public, works just now, and New Plymouth's experience, therefore, is not singular. ■ At the same time the town has many advantages from a residential point of view that should attract labor of the kind required, and no doubt would do so were the housing question not so acute. This the Board recognises. At present the Board does not feel justifed in utilising any of the loan money for the purpose, in view of the fact that as a result of the greatly-increased prices every pound will'be required for the completion of the first section of Mr. Blair Mason's scheme. The Government proposes to gi* T e Harbor Boards power to borrow money for housing, as it now gives local bodies. It is unfortunate that harbor boards were not included in the first place. With adequate housing facilities the labor problem should be successfully got over. The rise in the cost and difficulty of getting material is in another category. Things industrial, however, must improve in the near future. Mr. Maxwell's proposal to provide another berth at right angles to the wharf, using the present swinging basin, erecting a rubble wall, and reclaiming the foreshore up to the wall, was carefully considered by the engineers, who estimated the cost at £200,000, and the time necessary to complete it three years. This put the proposal entirely out of court. The engineers pinned their faith on their original scheme 'of extending the breakwater another 80.0 f«Bi—a .work thej; are ap;

engaged upon—thus providing effective shelter iu all weathers and reducing the range of the seas at the berths. Also, they stressed : the importance of going on with the Moturoa rubble wall, which eventually will connect the island with the breakwater, so trapping the sand, and building up land on the seaward side of the breakwater that will enable that structure itself to be used as berthage for colliers and smaller boats using the port, and, at the same time, doing away with much of jthe sand dredging. This view was supported by the Board as a Whole, though the necessity for providing more berthage at once was fully recognised. The engineers' remarks regarding the dredge, and its unsuitability for the hard work upon which it is engaged, will cause some surprise. They explain that the ground to be dredged is amongst the most difficult in Australasia, and that in order to cope with the increasing trade of the port, and the necessity for digging out further berths, a heavier class of dredge is required. This means a very heavy extra expenditure. The engineers, of course, are the best judges of what is necessary to carry out their scheme, and if it entails a much heavier expenditure than was at first anticipated, then the position must be faced. The work of improving the harbor is so important that extra cost must not be allowed to stand in the way. The trade of the port is growing, and growing fast, and it would be fatal not to do everything possible to provide the necessary facilities for meeting it. The engineers tendered their resignations for reasons which must be considered, good and sufficient. It is, however, pretty certain that 1 the Board will be able to make ar- ( rangements with them to continue in the capacity of consulting engineers, appointing an engineer of their own to supervise operations. This arrangement would be more satisfactory than that which has 1 obtained in the past, for it ensures the retention of the services of the > talented designer of the improve- ■ ments, and the efficient and prompt carrying out of the work. The ■ public are naturally anxious to see more progress made than has been the case of late, and will be ready i to accord their support to the 1 Board in any measures they may [ take for ensuring greater expecli- - tion.