Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, APRIL 21th, 1922 UNANIMITY ON THE HARBOUR BOARD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7966, 21 April 1922, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, APRIL 21th, 1922 UNANIMITY ON THE HARBOUR BOARD

THE Harbour Brarcl is one ol our most important local bodies. It does not exist solely for the townsman or the farmer, but for bo f h. Too often in the past it has wasted valuable time in disputations over trifling questions. The flags of the "east” and the "west” have too often been hoisted. Yesterday an important question, in which the whole district is concerned—the western area particularly viz,, railway connection with the wharf at Tauranga, was discussed in an excellent spirit, and it will be generally agreed that the Board, in deciding to again make strong representations to the Ministers ol Public Works and Marine, to the effect that the Government should bear the cost of rail connection to the wharf, has taken the proper course. A question that might at one time have given rise to dissension was therefore disposed of—so far as is possible at the moment—in a most amicable spirit, and with members in complete accord. This is a distinctly encouraging sign. Very important works lie ahead of the Board, and a greater amount of unanimity on broad lines would) unquestionably enable members i to devote their best energies to ! the full and proper development t of our harbour. Too often in the | past has there been a tendency 1 to view the town with some dis-! favour because of its fortunate ' geographical position. That wc \ have seen and heard the last of' that yesterday’s discussion seems [

to indicate. The Board is now. grappling with a big question in seeking not to have the burden of railway connection with the wharf placed on a struggling local body, possessing little or no endowment. The Board’s atti* tide is the right one, and we trust that when the Chairman goes before the Ministers of the Crown on Monday next he will have the personal support ot as many members as possible, east ■ as well as west. Again we congratulate members of the Board on their unanimity on the question, and hope the same spirit will characterise the important scheme of harbour development when such comes to be reviewed later on