AUCKLAND DOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1915, Page 7

AUCKLAND DOCK.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —With Reveral of your correspondents, 1 agree that it would be a great error not to re-erect elsewhere the Auckland Graving- Dock, at present in process of demolition. I suppose nothing I may say will prevail to prevent the Hosing of the dock in its present posii tion, and, therefore. 1 would respectfully urge that it be reconstructed on the northern eide of the harbour, where suitable sites could be found. In my opinion, an excellent location would be between Birkenhead and Chelsea wharves. Here the necessary depth of water exists, and a sufficient area of land could be secured adjoining for the various industries concerned, such as foundries, -shipbuilding yards. etc. There the dock and its adjuncts could remain without need of molestation, to carry out the increasing demands occasioned by the growing business of the port by the expansion of the province. The locality suggested is quite handy, and yet sufficiently removed from the congestion of shipping around the numerous wharves on the southern side of the harbour, il understand that thie site ran the Calliope site very closely for the construction of Auckland's big dock many years ago.—l am, etc., PROGRESS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Captain Koss is evidently in a fog, and the-only thing visible is "Vested interests." and the inspiratory influence docs not appear to imbue him,with confidence, and he has asked mc to pilot him UiTougli. The people's progressive Harbour Board is custodian of the public purse, and lias already tackled glaring anomalies, and will continue to administer the task allotted to it on business lines, in conjunction with the -by-lawe and efficiency of-the port in accordance with the dictates of the people, irrespective of ""Vested interests. , ' In the good old days of the Hartour Board, -with an unique constitution, resolutions were passed without any record in minute-hook. Now "Vested interests" have enjoyed remunerative privileges such as towages, pilotage, and launch -work, but the advent of the progressive Board deemed it advisable to do this class of work itself, which obviously caused bitterness amonget those enjoying these privileges, and ever since "Vested intereste"' have shown a great deal of antagonism to the Board's comprehensive harbour scheme, though it was approved of by two leading engineers of the Dominion, also by the shipping people and the public. The closing of the Auckland dock was also embraced in the scheme, and the Board has promised, if it is actually required, it will be rebuilt. There is an old saying, which aptly describes the antagonism, viz., "It requires no ability to criticise, and that is the reason why there are so many critics." To thus might be added, if they have lost through the adoption of a scheme, their criticisms will be extremely bitter. During last year 101 vessels, under f>oo tons and 24 over that tonnage, were docked in the Auckland Dock, and ac the Harbour Board has built a (iOO-ton slipway, and will dock any vessel over this tonnage in Calliope Dock to Increase its earning power at Auckland dock rates, and as two large companies are building slipways to do their own work, it is apparent there will not be much work for the Board's slipway, and yet we are asked to keep a £60,000 dock in stock at a loss of £3000 per annum in interest for gome unforeseen contingency-, when the Calliope Dock is not paying its -way, though it is neces--1 sary, and we do not deny it. The Auckland Dock land will be leased, and it is estimated to bring in a revenue of £4000 per annum in ground rents, besides improving the waterfront and making easy access to Hobeon Street wharf, which will be a great convenience to the public. Which does the public prefer—a loss of £3000 or a profit of £4000 per annum? This is the question at issue. Captain Ross is owner of an Island trader, and I don't tbink he -would keep in stock an idle vessel in the event of disaster overtaking the worker. It he did, the idler would soon absorb the profit of the worker, and. being an aJert ■ business man. 1 feel sure he will now admit the Board's policy is the correct one. and that he has been sadly misled by the "Vested interests'' bogy. As all the Board's wharves return a good rate of interest, except the ferry ones., conn ment is needless.—l am. etc., n VIRTUE, 1 ' '{amber AJ3..8.