HARBOUR AT WESTPORT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29892, 4 August 1962, Page 10

HARBOUR AT WESTPORT

Objections To Lower Vote (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 3. An appeal for increased expenditure on Westport harbour to bring it up to the standard it had enjoyed in past years was made in Parliament today by Mr W E. Rowling (Opposition. Buller) during discussion of the Marine Department estimates. Mr Rowling expressed concern that the total amount to be spent on Westport harbour, including salaries. was £82.200. compared with £127,217 spent last year He noted that the salaries were roughly the same, but toe amount spent on dredging would be £35.500 as against £69.045 spent last year.

He was particularly concerned that the amount allocated for harbour improvements was only £7OOO whereas £18.855 was spent in this way last year.

“Not very long ago. big ships were using this port.” Mr Rowling said. “Cargoes of up to 8000 tons were going out. Even in 1959-60. a sum of £160.000 was spent. Even so. the last real improvements made in the port were in 1916—more than 40 years ago.”

He suggested that. with £l3 million tied up m the coal industry, and with a calcium carbide industry in prospect, the West Coast was in urgent need of an adequate harbour. Mr P. Blanchfield (Opposition, Westland) said 'that, in comparison with Westport. Greymouth was in good shape. It did require an extension of the south mole. He believed, with Mr Rowling that the provision of a capacious and modern port was vitally needed on the West Coast The Minister of Marine (Mr Gerard) said the estimates for Westport showed no deterioration. The difference between toe present estimates and those of last year related merely to capital 'works which had been carried out If ‘‘nothing had been done” since 1916, was not the Labour administration partly responsible?