ACCESS TO PORT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19212, 19 January 1928, Page 7

ACCESS TO PORT.

MANUFACTURERS INTERESTED. The executive of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association briefly discussed last night the Port and City Committee's circular regarding better access to Lyttelton, but postponed the main discussion till the next monthly meeting.

Mr P. W. J. Belton said that if Christcliurch was to develop it ought to have the access to the sea possessed by the other big manufacturing centres in the Dominion. Fifty years ago things were different, but motor transport had absolutely revolutionised the means of handling goods. The object of the Port and City Committee's circular was to get definite information as to the present cost of handling goods and the loss involved.

Mr H. Bradley cited his experience in connexion with the breakage of glass in transit from Lyttelton, when damage to the extent of £2O was done. He discovered, in discussing the matter, that though St. Helens is 13 miles from Liverpool, the glass was transported by motor-lorries instead of by rail, and by doing so there was no danger of damage to the goods. Here there were about four handlings before goods got into the merchant's store. He believed that the Association could do something to assist in getting better facilities.

Mr H. Willis said there was not much use iu asking for a tunnel road unless there was a guarantee that the Government would give them access to the wharves. Mr Belton said that the late Mr Massey gave an assurance that when Canterbury us a province was prepared to demand access to the wharves,, the Government would place no obstacle in the way. With reference to Mr Bradley's experience with glass, Mr Belton said that before the war gas cookers were transported by rail, and the breakages amounted to 25 per cent.; now each cooker is transported over 100- miles by motor-lorry, and the breakages practically were nil. Further discussion was postponed till the next monthly meetiug.