The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The evening News, Morning News and The Echo. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1919. PORT FACILITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 125, 27 May 1919, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1919. PORT FACILITIES.

I . For the cause that lacks assistant*, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the fuUtre in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The Auckland Harbour Board had under consideration to-day the question of the resumption of harbour works. There has been practically a cessation of new construction during the war period, as a result of the impossibility of securing the necessary steel and the scarcity of skilled labour, ft had been suggested that the recommencement of the active policy of construction interfered with by the war, should l>e a great deal further deferred; but it is very evident that the steady expansion of the trade of Auckland province indicates that the present amount of berthago accommodation for oversea ships will soon be entirely inadequate. Even at the present time congestion is very noticeable on occasions, and with a return to normal conditions it is difficult to see how the trade of the port can be conducted without serious delays. At today's meeting a report on his recent tour of the principal ports of the United States and Canada wae submitted by the board's engineer. There is much that i.-. interesting in Mr. Hamer's account of the completed works and those under consideration in America; but it is a little disappointing that there is an entire failure to make any application of the lessons pained to our local requirements. The engineer stops short at drawing any deductions from what he has seen, and the knowledge that he ha* gained. The board is left entirely in the dark as to what Mr. Hamer's real conclusions are on his visit, or whether he has learnt anything in detail of value to the port. In the matter of handling oil and coal, which were matters given special prominence as snhjects of inquiry, there are eulogifims of the magnificent facilities of certain American porta, but no information as to the character of equipment that in the engineers opinion is most applicable to Auckland's needs. The most definite conclusion that tsc have gained from a perusal of the report is that the early adoption of ferro-concrete in Auckland as the material for wharf construction I has been endorsed by practise abroad, and that much of the most important construction now in hand is in this material. But if there is no indication in what direction the engineer's views have been modified, if at all, at least a very comprehensive scheme of new works is presented. The proposals are rather an elaboration than a modification of the original scheme of harbour works adopted by the board at the beginning of the era of new construction. They entail the building of the eastern mole, that was an integral part of the original proposals, before berthage accommodation can be appreciably increased. The completion of the central wharf on the present lines, and the construction of a wharf of about equal dimensions on the site of the present Hobson Street wharf, apart from a coal wharf farther west, are the suggestions for the first extensions of the berthing area. Before the board is finally committed to these two projects we think it judicious that the plans should be considered by shipmasters and shipping companies who constantly use the port and their views ascertained. It is possible that they will endorse the scheme in the form in which it has been submitted, but on the other hand they may be able to suggest modifications that will facilitate the handling of vessels and cargo. A scheme 60 large and involving an expenditure that it is evident will for many years strain the finances of the port, should not be sanctioned without the fullest investigation and consultation with the interests most directly affected. The financial side of the question calls for careful handling. A statement submitted by the secretary and treasurer discloses that there has been a loss of £38,000 on the working of the port during the past four years. While we may confidently anticipate a very rapid expansion of revenue, it is painfully evident that there is not that buoyancy of finance that permits of the launching of echemes involving the expenditure of at least a million in ten years with equanimity. The secretary's estimate of the financial position for 1919 is that interest and sinking fund will absorb £95,300, and working expenses and maintenance £05.000, while by 1929 it may be anticipated that interest and sinking fund will amount to £162,500, anrl working expenses to £103,300. To cover this expansion, and provide for reserve and depreciation, he calculates on a growth <•" revenue from £190,000 in 1919 to £309,S .' : n 1929. The board to pay for the pr gramme of works is told that a sum of £1,000,000, to be expended over a period of ten year? , , is necessary, and to provide this sum Parliament is to be asked to give authority to raise that amount at an interest charge not ex ceeding 5J per cent. The chairman stated to-day that approval of the loan did not commit the board to an adoption of the entire scheme, that each proposal would be considered by the board on its merits. Under these circumstances, it seems to us that instead of asking Parliament for authority to borrow a million sterling, a much more businesslike proceeding would be to definitely estimate the

cost of the various works, and to secure the sanction of loans as they are. required. Under proposals involving a million as a fund to be drawn on to any extent for unspecified work as long as it is included in the schedule, reasonable check on the cost of separate portions of the scheme of works is inevitably relaxed to the'disadvantage of efficiency and economy. It will require the most • rigid control of finance during this period of expansion if the scale of charges is not to be so seriously increased as to • definitely injure the popularity of the port. The correct policy is to keep al* ways in mind t'ho desirability of cheapening the cost of handling shipping and ' cargo. Indications are not lacking that 1 there will be an expansion of the coastal • ports cf thifi Province within the decade, 1 and they will come into competition with; Auckland both as distributing centres ' and outlets for the direct export trade. 5 If a scheme of costly works io to involve 1 us in a necessity for greatly enhanced • charges the meeting of the monetary " obligations involved by expansion will 1 prove even morn serious than appears 5 1 at present. The Board will be well 1 advised to consider all phases of this ' question of new works before definitely ' ' committing itself, as it seemed inclined ' , to do at to-day's meeting. l