The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1922. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1922. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Mr. Bignell, chairman of the Wanganui Harbor Board, has been on a visit to New Plymouth, and given his impressions regarding the New Plymouth harbor to the Wanganui Chronicle. In doing so he makes some statements that are entirely erroneous and misleading, and scarcely to be expected from one holding such a responsible position. New Plymouth harbor, he said, was at its best now, and doing better than it could ever hope to do in the future. “Only one steamer,” he continued, “could be berthed, and the port was struggling along under heavy charges. Any future development meant very heavy capital expenditure and increased charges.” If Mr. Bignell had taken the trouble whilst here to interview anyone really acquainted with harbor matters he would not have spoken .so foolishly. As a matter of fact New Plymouth, instead ,of “staggering along under heavy charges,” happens to be the cheapest deep-water port in New Zealand to-day, not having increased its charges of late years to anything like the extent of the bigger ports, such as Wellington. Simply because it has not been necessary, owing to the buoyant state of the revenue brought about by the steadily increasing trade of the port. For the same reason future development does not necessarily entail the imposition of heavier charges. How the revenue is increasing is shown by the following figures relating to the general account: — 3918, £12,153; 1919, £14,421; 1920, £21,135; 1921, £24,059, Thus last year the increased revenue was £2924. The working, account showed an even healthier condition, it disclosing a net profit of £13,099 as against £7364 in 1920. Not only is the revenue expanding considerably, but the land revenue (a valuable endowment for the port) keeps up, it amounting last year to no less than £7445. The Harbor Board has not struck a rate for years, and with the development of trade that is going on is not likely to for many a year, if at all. So much for the financial position, which, we think, any unbiassed person will say is wonderfully sound and satisfactory, considering the state of general trade during the past year. It certainly does not justify Mr. Bignell’s sweeping statement that “New Plymouth’s port is staggering along under heavy charges!” It is true enough, however, that New Plymouth only has one deepwater berth, but it is doing its best to provide another, when it will be able to deal more effectively with the trade offering instead of having to drive some of it away for lack of accommodation, as has been the case during the past few months. The new wharf therefore will not .be a liability; it should prove a profitable investment. The fact is that trade has already overtaken the wharfage facilities, and the board and the general public have only begun to realise the big possibilities of the port, which is playing an important part in the development of the district and is destined to play an even more important part in the near future. We are sure Mr. Bignertl’s unneighborly and ungenerous remarks are not shared by the people of Wanganui, who realise that there is room for the expansion of both their own river port and the ocean port of New Plymouth. They each eater in their own way for the needs of the rich districts they serve, and the success attending their respective efforts should be a. matter for frank acknowledgment and congratulation rather than an exhibition of petty jealousy and mis-statement. Both places can work and pull, together to mutual advantage, particularly in regard to the importation and distribution of bulky lines like manures, and no doubt will do so if harmony gnd reason prevail, and business principles are followed.