NAPIER ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 8

NAPIER ELECTIONS

Harbour Board Contest TWO FACTIONS INVOLVED Dominion Special Service. Napier, May 2. The most interesting topic at the Napier elections is the Harbour Board contest, in which seven candidates seek to fill three vacancies. For twenty years and more this question resolved itself into a controversy between two factions, the inner harbour and the breakwater.

The inner harbour supporters have, till recently, said the only safe retreat for ships to unload was in what has been known as the inner harbour, where the fishing ileets shelter and tie up. Their policy has been amended to one of restoration of this harbour to its pre-quake condition and facilities. The other faction proposes the expenditure of large sums toward the extension 9f the present breakwater and the development of a permanent harbour at this site. The consensus of local opinion appears in favour of the inner harbour party’s amended platform on the grounds that the province is not in a financial position to promote the major work, involving approximately £750,000. For this reason it appears likely that a newcomer in the field, Mr. A. L. Waterhouse, will be included as an inner harbour member of tlie new board. The closing of the inner harbour would mean disaster for Port Ahuriri, since it depends almost solely upon its fishing industry and lightering work on overseas boats.