HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 6

HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION.

One of the chief reasons for the high freights charged upon Xew Zealand produce bound overseas is the gTeat length of time spent upon the coast in the collection of produce from out-ports. It is quite common for chips to spend sixty days meandering from port to port, dropping a little here and picking up a little somewhere else, an unnecessary and coetlv process. Mr. Holderness, the Auckland Harbour Board's engineer, in addressing the Chamber of Co'mmeroe yesterday, declared that, with the existing and proposed facilities here, it would be possible to unload a cargo of 8000 tons in four or five days ani then, transferring to another wharf, to pick up her outward cargo in a similar time. The saving on a single voyage if that programme were carried out, would amount to about £9000 on the basis of a 40-day trip round the Dominion, and in view of thie a considerable reduction in freig-hts would become inevitable.

The advantage of concentrating import and export trade at the great porte and limiting the development of the out-ports to facilities for coastwise shipping, have been stressed by many competent authorities, including the representatives of the great shipping lines which visit these ports. Up to the present there has been little check upon extension echemes, the Marine Department never exercising its right of veto. Under the Local Bodies Loans Act passed last session, such proposals will undergo a wider scrutiny, and it is probable that the board will give the whole question of out-port development careful attention before it authorise. further extensions. The expeditious handling at the fully-equipped ports should compensate for the cost of collection at these bases, and the resultant economy would in the end sreatlv benefit the producer. While discussing harbour affairs it is pertinent to point oat "that the Australian ports are not allowed to develop without the highest expert advice, though the Auckland system, involving millions, has not been reported upon by an outside authoiity. Sir Geo.ge Buchanan, the eminent British authority, has just presented his report on the harbours of the Commonwealth in which he condemns some of the schemes in operation and proposed, and suggests more economical methods for laying out the docks and wharves. The report of such an authority upon our o.vr scheme would be a very valuable document, and even if ft entirely supported the proposed extensions the cost would still be well spent in an assurance that the most practicable means were being adopted.