THE H.B. TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1912. MISSING HARBOUR REPORT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 226, 27 August 1912, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1912. MISSING HARBOUR REPORT.

A further disappointment was experienced yesterday with regard to the long-expected Harbour report. Members of the board assembled at committee work were confident that the Sydney mail would bring the document from Messrs. Cullen and Kiele, but we regret to say it is still missing. It is now certain that the board should • ascertain definitely when the report can be supplied. Uncertainty should cease. No doubt explanations so far given by members are more or less reasonable, but it is time we knew exactly how the matter stands. It is pointed out that Messrs. Cullen and Kiele live a long way apart, and that a lot of their discussion and deliberation has to be done by post. It is also said that Mr. Kiele has had a great deal of extra work upon bis shoulders since returning to Australia. This may be all quite true and explain in a large measure the delay which has taken place, but a period of between four and five months gives time to accomplish a lot of ■ work. Although the engineers re- ■ fused to speak definitely as tcr.their conclusions before leaving Hawke’s Bay, it was gathered that they had collected most of their data and had arrived at a stage in the investigation when a decision could be given. Plans, however, remained to be prej pared and the report drawn up. It was not a work of monumental na- ! ture and certainly to the lay-mind idoes not appear to offer anything I like five months’ hard labour. If something does not happen soon, ! the members of the board will have !forgotten what they were returned [pledged to perform, and-the people [ will have forgotten that the members made an effort to redeem their pledges. Going a step further it [ may be assumed that Messrs. Cullen i i and Kiele. themselves, will have for-! gotten that they visited Napier, and > what data they collected. The | engineers should be written to at [ once and asked for a straight-out ■ statement as to when the report may I l>e expected. The commission given; the engineers was an important one. ; and a very large section of the people ; are deeply interested in their delib- ■, erations. There is also a pronounced feeling that the harbour question should be tackled without any fur- [ ther procrastination. As a conse- : quence the non-arrival of the report is causing a good deal of irritation. It is to be hoped that Messrs. Cullen and Kiele will see their way to com- ’ plate their labours at the earliest i possible opportunity. I

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE We are gratified to be able to pub lish elsewhere to-day a letter from Mr. Henr.y Hill. Inspector of Schools for Hawke’s Bay. in which lie endorses our action in urging The establishment of ati Agricultural College. Mr. Hill’s letter not only abounds with enthusiasm for the project, but it carries with it the weight of long experience and expert knowledge in educational matters. Tht heart of the question is touched in his terse concluding sentences: — “Competition in these times is *- between country and country. Nev.Zealand has to measure her pro duets with those of other countries and they will be measured in proportion to the scientific training and preparation of our future farmers. It is science with industry applied to the land that will press us and our products to the front in the commercial world, hence the importance to be attached to the fostering of agricultural science here.’’ The public will readily grip the sound common sense of this argument. Not one practical farmer in tiie province can j fail to see that the future will de-1 mand from the tillers of the soil the! highest possible skill and knowledge. I Old rule-of-thumb methods must go| by the board. But Mr. Hill’s advo-■ eacy alone is not enough to secure! success. Acting on such advice asj his the public men of the district should act, and act right away—now —without talking of the good and big things that may be done in the ; dim and distant future. i