PROGRESS FOR THE PORT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 25 February 1913, Page 6

PROGRESS FOR THE PORT

Auckland is spending much money on the Waitemata; therefore, it is argued that Wellington should splash funds on Port Nicholson. It is true that the trade of Wellington and other districts which depend on this harbour need more whaTi and store accommodation, but it is yet to be ehown conclusively that urgent reasons exist why tho Harbour Board should undertake a" large expenditure to add to tho port's equipment~-and to tho charges against shipß. The intention is to build a breastwork 1200 ft in length along the Waterloo-quay sea-wall to furnish berths for vessels carrying timber, coal, and other tough cargo, and to tun out a large whaTf eastward of the King's Wharf, with adequate shed accommodation. A new wharf east of the Tafanaki-street structure ie also proposed, and no doubt the building programme will be vigorously begun when the board is able to make satisfactory financial arrangements. The recent rueh may have found the beTtbage epace a little short of tho demand, but it is not desirable that a community should hastily load itself With heavy capital charges to meet all abnormal rush of shipping. "The board," said the Chairman, Mr. R. Fletcher, yesterday, "does not intend to pursue a policy of extravagant expenditure. It does not lack foresight ; it has not overlooked the needs of the future ; it is not unmindful of the fact that this is the day of the big ship. Extra accommodation will have to be v provided ; we know that, but we do Hot wish to spend a lot of money just at present. We are cutting our cost according to our cloth." This caution is commendable at a time when the board will be tempted to emulate Auckland's free-and-easy spending. It is* stated by come critics who have shrewdly studied the northern pott that the expenditure has been, on a wasteful scale. Indeed Wellington, if th& board keeps a cool head, may be able to protii well by any mistakes in the Auckland plans. According to some of the criticism given to a representative of The Post yesterday, Wellington should be soon prepared to "scrap" or sell those hydraulic cranes which do not lift more than two tons, and replace them with electric plant, of five-ton strength, on the Auckland model. Such advice, has a note of impetuoitsness. We are not aware yet of any definite evidence that the crane provision '!s hot equal to all requirements. Wellington's wharves have 53 two-ton hydraulic cranes (including, 48 movable) and three large fixed cranes (one thirty-five-ton, one twentyton, one ten-ton). How often has tho large thirty-five- ton one been used? A large stun of money is sunk in it, but its value is mainly potential. The profit is to be much deferred. For the present Wellington will not begrudge Auckland the "floating crane which lifts seventy-five-ton blocks of concrete," nor "the shear-legs at Calliope Dock $ Which lift eighty tons." Wellington's board has Parliament's authority to borrow a large sum, but the board evidently intends to look well before it leaps. It must be a planning to cover yearsj and the possibilities of Wellington province's development and tho expansion of other districts have to bo well studied. Tho hew railway station scheme has to bo definitely fixed as one preliminary, and there are other factors. Experience here and in other parts of New Zealand has impressively proved that hurry-scurry enterprise on a waterfront is to bo avoided.