HARBOUR FACILITIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 7

HARBOUR FACILITIES

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. “POSITION BECOMING WORSE EVERY WEEK.” At the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union held in Hastings this morning, Mr. W. J. Livingston said that the branch should make a move to have harbour matters improved. There was a prospect that next year the transportation of live stock would be held up. Mr. Ericksen said it was hard to know which body to push. It was not alone a matter for the Harbour Board and the Rivers Board, but for the Government also. Mr. J. A. Miller said it was not a matter of Inner Harbour versus Breakwater Harbour. The matter must be faced. If shipping facilities were not provided very soon, Wellington would become the shipping centre for Hawke’s Bay’s wool exports. To-day the harbour costs were being borne almost entirely by the farmer, and the business people and the towns should hear their share. Mr. Millar quoted figures supporting his contention that harbour costs to the local producer were disproportionately high. It should be emphasised, he said, that the facilities existing before the earthquake should be restored to the producer. Mr. Millar moved in that direction, and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr. C. M. Tait pointed out that facilities must exist, for Hawke’s Bay had this year exported a larger quantitv of produce than ever before. Mr. Ericksen answered that the position was becoming worse every week.