POET FACILITIES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 148, 19 December 1935, Page 11

POET FACILITIES

WELLINGTON UP TO DATE

"I had the opportunity of going into a great number of sea ports," said the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Marine, responding to the toast of "Our Country" at the pre-Christmas gathering of the Harbour Board last night, "including the main Australian ..ports, Colombo;' Marseilles, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Vancouver, and we endeavoured to ascertain how our own harbour and equipment compared with those of larger ports. Frankly, I was disappointed in Sydney. I do not think there is any comparison of its equipment with that of the Wellington and Auckland wharves, sheds, and mechanisation for the handling of cargo. We are a long way ahead, of Sydney. I do not think that any of the Australian ports can excel us. I did not see a shed to compare with Pipitea Wharf here or with Queen's Wharf in Auckland, until we arrived at Marseilles, where we saw a big shed well laid out, and well equipped, a splendid lay-out of services. There is no doubt "that the French marine and harbour engineers are very capable."

Mr. Fraser spoke of the excellent reception accorded members of his party upon mentioning the name of Mr, A. G. Barnett (secretary of the board), which was held, he found, in high respect by the Port of London Authority, and indeed by. all the port authorities visited. ■