OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 23444, 8 December 1939, Page 2

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

ro THE EDITOR. Sir, —Tho Southland Cooling Chambers, Bluff, are dismantling portion of their cooling chambers,with tho idea of re-crecting a fruit store, which must spell disaster for Otago if any definite assurance has been given the Bluff enterprise by the Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Surely such action will awaken our Otago Harbour Board and spur it on to immediate action. From time to time this question of free cool stores for dairy produce and fruit has been discussed by the board. A site was allotted and provision was made in tho board’s loan for such, a project, the ear-marked amount being later trans-, ferred to other board works. The position has been the subject of many conferences, but the scheme is so far still dormant. It seems ridiculous that fruit from Central Otago should pass through Wingatui to bo railed right on to the Bluff, with the Fort of Otago so close at hand. I 'understand another site has been talked about in Dunedin near Messrs D. Reid and Co.’s wool store._ I have no desireto bo accused of being parochial, but desiro to show in a commonsenso way tho greater advantages of having tho site at Port Chalmers than in Dunedin. Just recently the various bodies, in conjunction with tho Expansion League, stressed very strongly the larger steamers being constructed, and the immediate creation of a straight, wide main highway to Port. Chalmers for direct and quick communication with Dunedin to obviate local tunnel congestion. The site in Dunedin will later on become too valuable for manufacturing purposes, as against the very much cheaper one at Port Chalmers. A conference of shipping interests was held relative to tho slow working of the Port Chalmers tunnel direct communication to the wharves in busy periods, which had a bearing on the new wool store at With the site at Port Chalmers this is overcome, as the produce at periods would come to Port Chalmers, and when reloaded when the ships arrived would receive quick delivery and handling, with the obviating of railway tunnel congestion in busy periods, which reloading at Dunedin, would not. The site at Port Chalmers is at present the property of the hoard, is unlef, was the old'freezer site, and has walls still standing which could bo utilised for reconstruction and save heavy outlay. Somono mentioned that the site was condemned because of siding facilities, which is ridiculous, as' ideal up-to-date siding accommodation could be provided in the new layout. Another factor—if a ship had to depart without lifting all the produce or through bad weather it would be ridiculous to have to rail it back to Dunedin; whereas if tho site was at Port Chalmers it simply means railing to store.

With such factors as larger steamers, cheaper sites, tunnel complications in busy periods, and a location right on the spot for emergencies, I think the board in its wise judgment cannot pass Port Chalmers as the most suitable site for 'a free produce store. The Southland people, let mo point out, concentrate on Bluff, not Invercargill, for export. I trust the board will enlighten us as to its future plan in dealing with this subject for the benefit of the Port of Otago, to save the fruit export, as by losing one class of produce we might lose others for lack of up-to-date facilities.—l juh, etc., Thos, Anderson. December 7.