OTAGO HARBOR AND COUNTY INTERESTS.

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 1

OTAGO HARBOR AND COUNTY INTERESTS.

In an. article on the above the M2b)il Mirror tays : —"The seizure by. the Government for railway purposes of sash a largo extent of reclaimed with tire closing of nearly all the streets leading.to the remaining portions of it, has greatly impoverished the Board by reducing Aw area available for leasing, while; at the same time, senondy prejudicing ite value. Und»r these circumstances it must be obvious that wiule this strain on the Board's means conUnues the Board cannot properly fulfil there functions of improving the harbor and at the same time render it more attractive' to snipping by making a reduction in their numerous dues and rates. It is to remedy this that the striking of a small rate over the districts served by the harbor has been' suggested at different times, and how. such; a rate could unduly benefit property-holders m at the expense of the country ft is difficult to see, Dunedin '■ itself being equally rated with "the other districts. T&a rate would enable tie Harbor Board to effect irracb-desrred improvements - m the harbor which they cannot now afford, and through its assistance tliey could reduce the at .present very heavy dues upon shipping which: are, most undeniably, prejudicially affecting the trade of the-port and diverting it elsewhere. A reduction on import dues means cheaper goods for consumers, and on export dues enhanced prices ; for stoppers to the markets of the world. A cheap port means an increase in trade, prosperity, and population ; and a growing city means an 1 in creased consumption of' all farm products. It is recognised and admitted that commercially Dunedin is not holding her own with the other three krge ports of the colony. Though ber trade may be increasing, it is not doing so in the "same ratio; nor rt so l«ig as she is s0 handicapped that where possible the shipping avoids her. We must, bear in mind that the decadence of a port from loss of trade signifies a still heavier handicap in the shape of dues, for interest and expenses of working must be met, and can be met only out of the shipping, and thus is the whole country served by the port injuriously affected It is therefore, in our estimaticji, essential that the boroughs and counties of Otago should be prepared to give this matter their most careful consideration if it slwuld bo placed before them." r— ~~*»