NEW EXPORT WHARF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 157, 4 July 1940, Page 4

NEW EXPORT WHARF.

NEED FOR SPEED URGED.

LOAD SHIPS FOR BRITAIN

Urgency in connection with the completion of the new export wharf on the eastern waterfront was stressed by Mr. Gainor Jackson at to-day'e meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. He said it was of vital importance that facilities for the loading of produce should be completed in view of the fact that Germany might succeed later in enforcing a complete blockade of Great Britain.

"The war in Europe may depen.-l fin ally on who has the last week'e 3u.pply of food," said Mr. Jackson. "We mu*t get a.ll we can to Britain before such a possibility could be brought about. At the present rate of progress the export wharf will take about two years to com- j plete. It is a job that should be con- j sidered one of national emergency." "I must oppose this pessimism," said' Mr. J. A. C. Alluin. "There is no possible chance of Germany ever blockading Britain so long as we hav« a Navy and an Air Force such as we have seen in action. This is a time when we must keep our tails up—hard." j It was decided that the chamber , should approach the Harbour Board to ask if they could assist in any way in {retting the work hastened. It was stressed that it was no fault of the Harbour Board but that the fact that the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. : R. Semplc, had said that public works had been speeded up might lead the Government to consider the export wharf as one job that should have the same methods applied. '