FISHERMEN’S WHARF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 25

FISHERMEN’S WHARF

DECISION OF CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY It was in the early hours of yesterday morning before the City Counci began to discuss matters in connection with the fishermen’s wharf at Island Bay, the subject of two deputations which waited upon the council on Thursday night. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said this matter had been practically a hardy annual for the last fourteen years, and both sides had certain rights. If fish were landed in the mid die of the beach It would be unhealthy and insanitary, and there could never be clean bathing in the vicinity of a fish wharf. The only solution was tc put the fishermen on the island. At one time the islanders agreed to the proposal to construct a bridge. It wasfound, liowevere, that a bridge would cost £30.000. An aerial railway the cheapest method of conveyance ii the world, and could be used for con siderable distances, was then proposed The Chief Engineer of Public Works agreed that that method was the onlj one. Estimates had been obtained foi the wharf, and tenders caller! for thr

aerial. The whole cost of the work would be £BOOO. This was the stage at which the fishermen objected on the grounds heard from the deputation. By making the wharf the shape of the letter L a boat could shelter on one side or the other. The addition to the wharf would cost about £1250, making a total of £0250. They would get a subsidy from the Government, and could proceed with the wharf first and carry out the other work another year, probably getting a further subsidy from the Government. About 3500 tons of fish would be landed a year, and the charges would be id. to id. per fish, which, in the market, would fetch 7s. 6d. each. The Mayor considered it would not be a bad thing if the fishing industry were cleared out of Island Bay altogether and was accommodated in the harbour. In that event tlie aerial could be used as a passenger way over to the island, producing considerable revenue, even if the fisherman left the bay. He saw no other course but to decide on the island. Their first duty was to clean up the beach and waterfront and keep the fishermen off, was the opinion of Councillor G. Mitchell. They must have an efficient wharf and a destructor for offal. Councillor M. F. Luckie asked if a small wharf could not be built in the little bay at Happy Valley. The Mayor: It is too exposed. It could not be done. Councillor C. D. Morpeth thought a slipway would meet the case without a wharf.

“I find myself just as confused as ever,” said Councillor H. L>. Bennett, and he was not prepared to vote on the subject that night. The financial aspect of tlie problem also required consideration. Councillor R. McKeen said it would lie to the advantage of the people of Island Bay if the fishermen did go elsewhere, but the matter was not going to be settled as easily as some of them thought. He had doubts about the aerial transport. He suggested the appointment of an expert committee of Inquiry into the matter, and so lift the responsibility froml the shoulders of the council, the fishermen, and the residents and Ratepayers’ Association. He suggested that the committee of inquiry should consist of the Under-Secretary of Marine, the Undersecretary of Public Works, and Mr. Marchbanks as chairman. The Mayor said Mr. Marchbanks would be an interested party, but as tlie other two would have to finally settle the matter he was agreeable to that suggestion so far as they were concerned. Councillor Aston doubted whether a commission would carry them any further. It would be better if they could get rid of the fish business from Island Bay, as they had done from the other bays, and adopt trawlers. Tlie Mayor: They can't trawl in Cook Strait on account of the rocky bottom, which would tear their nets to pieces. Councillor Aston said he would rather come to a definite decision on the lines proposed.

Councillor \V. 11. Bennett thought Paremata would later on become the headquarters of the industry, and it was a safe harbour. That made it difficult for him to make up his mind.

The time would come sooner or later when the people of Wellington will demand that the industry be removed from the bays, said Councillor Burns. If they adopted Councillor McKeen’s suggestion it might look as if they were shirking their responsibility and prolonging the agony.

Councillor Gaudin was opposed to the sjiending of public money on such a scheme when they did not know if the fishermen would stay there. It was first decided that the council would not grant the eastern side of the bay for a fishing wharf, and then “that tlie matter of the suitability of the island at Island Bay and methods for working the same submitted to the council be referred to the Under-Sec-retary of Marine and the Chief Engineer of Public Works for their report. Failing the island, they are to report on the most suitable site, and generally with regard to methods concerning the industry.”