CLOSING OF THE GRAVING DOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 50, 27 February 1915, Page 10

CLOSING OF THE GRAVING DOCK.

(To tbe Kditor.) Sir, —Permit mc to add my quota to the protest against 'the closing of the Auckland graving dock. The ostensible reason, that the dock area will bring in an increased revenue as business sites, is open to grave doubt, when one considers 'the loss of indirect revenue caiwed by the absence of chips for repairs (for, of course, they will have to go elsewhere), and the consequent loss of money for distribution amongst those whose business it is to fix up these vessels. Most of the ports of the world are adding to their repairing outfits; 'tis a truly brilliant idea to reduce ours. Tt is idle to talk of the new slip taking the place of the dock, for every shipwright knows that no slip, Tiowever "cunningly contrived,' can take ■the place of a graving dock. In a dock a vessel is "bare" and "get-at-able," whereas on a Blip she has to be raised if anything beyond temporary -work is needed. This is all extra, and adds considerably to the cost of the work.'Again, had our Board members any experience of docking a small ship in the Calliope <look 'their touching belief in its suitability would receive a rude shock, apart from the fact that the Admiralty might at any time have occasion to occupy the dock.for an Indefinite period. The Tnga was a case in point. What would be the position of our small craft now under like circumstances? If the members of the Board who voted for the closing of the Auckland dock would put in a day docking a small boat in the Calliope the experience of the "wooden" altar would enlighten them •wonderfully. To my mind the closing of the dock is premature, ill-advised, and calculated to do an immense amount, of harm to the shipping industries of the port, and shipwrights should join with the shipowners in a united attempt to reopen the question.—l ami