PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 11

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The article in Saturday night’s ' Star,’ dealing with Port Chalmers, makes good reading and the scheme, if carried out, should put the port back where it belongs, a busy shipping and repair centre. Port Chalmein at one time was recognised as the chief repair centre in New Zealand, and some of the largest repair jobs in Australasia were carried out here. Now what do we find? Instead of the port going ahead and adding to its reputation, it has been allowed to drift into the sorry state wo find to-day with old and obsolete gear round the docks and repair shops. The Otago Harbour Board and local councils must share most of the blame for this, for instead of making their voices heard and trying to encourage shipping companies to send their repair jobs to Port they sat back and let things drift, even to the extent of allowing the forge to fall into disrepair and finally dismantling the lot. Even during the war the Port docks were empty for long periods, while we were told that ships were lying in Wellington Harbour waiting their turn for the floating dock. The Harbour Board keeps wrangling about how much money it can spend to bring large ships to Dunedin, when a quarter of the sum spent at the other end would ensure good berthage at Port Chalmers for any ship that came. We should all realise the important part air travelling is going to take in future, and money spent on the upper harbour, to make a good air and sea-plane base, would ensure a bright future for the province. This would surely be the best policy; at one end we have the shipping, at the other we are preparing for the day when all travelling will be by air. If it is the name, Port Chalmers, that some people dislike when dealing with the berthage for ships, then drop the name and call the whole district Dunedin. That may solve the problem.— I am, etc., ' Progress. January 22.