THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1921, Page 4

THE PORT.

LOST OPPORTUNITIES. MORE BOATS THAN BERTHS. GROWTH OF TARANAKI TRADE. The necessity for providing more berthage to cope with the growing trade of Taranaki through its deep-sea port at New Plymouth has been illusseveral times during the past few weeks by vessels having to *wait in the stream until a berth was available. I his position was again emphasised yesterday, when' a steamer arriving here from Newcastle had to be diverted to Wellington, as there'would be no room for her in port for several days. The steamer concerned was the Mandy Lodge, which arrived yesterday morning and anchored in the stream. She is a vessel of 2686 tons, and she carries 3500 tons of coal for the Railway Department. She arrived to find the berthage occupied by the liner Kumara, the Rarawa, and the Kini, and while the Kumara will be in port until towards the end of next week the berths occupied by the other steamers are required for a considerable amount of coastal traffic in view for the next week. Consequently it was decided to divert the Mandy Lodge to Wellington, and she sailed for that port last night. The trade of Taranaki through New Plymouth 'has expanded even beyond expectations, and since the opening of the New Year the instances of congestion have multiplied. It will be four years next month since the first Home liner berthed here, and the twentyninth liner to come alongside is now in port. Is the port expanding in sympathy with the growth of trade? Tfie Harbor Board appears to be fully alive to the position, and the difficulties they have had to contend with cannot be lightly passed over, but x the position stands out clearly to-day to be this: There is not sufficient berthage for the trade offering and now, four years after the first direct liner has berthed, there is no more wharfage than there was. four years ago. It will be clearly seen therefore that it is imperative: (1) That more shelter be produced; (2) that the berthage* space be enlarged; and (3) that the swinging basin be widened.

A gentleman who is greatly interested in the progress of the port, and in close toijch with trade and shipping, emphasises the ’ necessity for the present position of the port being fully realised. He points out that New Plymouth is the only bar-free port on the West Coast, and that it is now recognised as a great distributing centre from which to send oiit the cargo brought in by overseas boats, this especially applying to the American, vessels bringing oil, of which an increasing number figj ure yearly in the berthage list. As the principal port of the Wesf Coast of New Zealand its future is full of possibilities. It seems evident now that the volume of shipping has completely outgrown the limited berthage space which the wharf provides, as it is becoming a regular occurrence for boats to have to wait in the stream, and on top of this an overseas vessel has now had to be diverted.

The expansion of the pott is not going to stop at this point, however, as regards trade offering. It is understood that one shipping company is prepared to send to New Plymouth steamers considerably bigger than those now entering the port providing the’facilitieF can bo provide# for such vessels. The value of New Plymouth as a port of call for the Sydney mail boats has been recognised, but nothing towards this end can be done until the problems of shelter, berthage, and depth, are solved. To encourage such a move as outlined it is necessary that the development work should be gone ahead with energetically. It has been pointed out that boats which can do 17 knots per hour, such as the vessels on the mail run, could complete the journey from Sydney to New Plymouth in an average of 2 days 19 hours, as against the 31 to 4 days which the voyage to Auckland or Wellington would occupy. New Plymouth is 150 miles nearer to Sydney than is Auckland, and 100 miles nearer than Wellington is, whilst there are no dangers in the route at either end, so that the service would |>ecome almost a ferry service, offering limitless possibilities for Taranaki. This, our informant declares, is by no means a dream, as some people are inclined to think. The institution of such a service is very probable when the port can cope ‘with the situation. The expansion of coastal trade to New Plymouth and the regular visits of Home liners is now providing a volume, of shipping beyond the capacity of the port, and it is doubtful if such a state continues, whether the door will not be closed to further expansion. Our informant makes it clear that he has no wish to direct hostile criticism against the Harbor Board, as he fully appreciates their difficulties, blit at the same time he believes in the fullest publicity bein" given to the facts as outlined, as he considers that the people of Taranaki do not fully realise the potentialities of their port. The day which Taranaki has looked for has come, and it would appear that immediate action is required to grasp the possibilities placed at the door.