Bay Of Plenty Times FRIDAY, SEPT. 17th, 1915. THE FREEZING WORKS SITE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6490, 17 September 1915, Page 2

Bay Of Plenty Times FRIDAY, SEPT. 17th, 1915. THE FREEZING WORKS SITE.

THE freezing works experts have come and gone, and although the climatic conditions under which they viewed Tauranga and its harbour were almost as bad as could be. they no doubt carried away with them a very clear idea of the port and its possibilities as a shipping centre for frozen produce. Although it was not possible to gather directly from any views expressed by th.3 experts what their ultimate recommendations may be as to the best spot in the Bay of Plenty to locate freezing works, it is reasonable to infer from their remarks that Tauranga harbour does not appeal to them And their line cf reasoning 13 not difficult to follow. Home steamers would have to be lightered at Taura-

nga ths same as at any other point in ! the Bay, and I hat being so the works would be best located at some more central place. If it is ultimately found that the decision of the experts i 3 given in this direction, it will have I taught Tauranga generally, and the Tauranga Harbour Board in particular, the utter uselessness of having an exceedingly valuable asset undeveloped. The point that, to us, the experts seemed to stress more than any other was not what the harbour can be made, but what it is. They are practical men, and although when they left here they had still further information to gather in Auckland that may influence their decision in favour of Tauranga harbour we cannot profess to be hopeful. It is impossible, therefore, to escape the conviction that if the members of the Harbour Board desire to do the best for the district they represent they cannot continue to rely on the POSSIBILITIES of the harbour to draw trade. It must be drawn—rind can only be permanently attracted — by the CAPABILITIES of the harbour. With a strong movement now in progress for the connection of the lower Waikato district with Tauranga harbour by railway, it is obvious that the harbour district must ultimately be extended in that direction, and in other directions too as development spreads and other districts become—as they must—connected by rail with the East Coast line. At pre sent the Board is engaged in securing data which will enable it to judge as \ t« what is seeded to bring tne har- j bom- up to the requirements of ocean geing steamers. When that information is in their possession the Board must seriously consider a comprehensive and effective scheme of development that will make the harbour second only in the Dominion to Auckland and Wellington. If they do this there will be no question as to where the whole produce of the Coast, and of a vast area that is as yet impossible to accurately define, will find its outlet: