A FLYING VISIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 211, 19 August 1933, Page 7

A FLYING VISIT

RT. HON. J. G. COATES. INSPECTS INNER HARBOUR. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, ActingPrime Minister, arrived by aeroplane from Wellington this morning, when he made an inspection of the Inner Harbour. During his inspection of the harbour he was accompanied by the chairman of the Napier Harbour Board (Mr T. M. Geddis), the deputy-chair-man (Mr. E. J. Herrick), ana me harbourmaster (Captain H. White-Parsons) After viewing the harbour from the end of West Quay e went to the eastern pier to inspect the chan:, el. Mr Coates was not accompanied by any representatives of those using the port, and who have made repeated representations to the board to have certain dredging carried out so that the trade of the port could be carried on uninterruptedly. Owing to there being no information regarding Mr Coates’s visit, time did not permit of a deputation of producers and exporting interests being arranged to meet him and point out the facilities required for the working of the port, a matter which has been the subject of futile representations to the board. Opportunity was taken by representatives of the trawler owners to place before Mr Coates the plight that they were in and their efforts to maintain the fishing industry of the port. They informed him of various losses they were suffering on account of the damage to their vessels through the board failing to take steps to provide facilities so that they could berth at the Iron Pot, and not be compelled to berth at the Breakwater, where they were in constant danger through no shelter being available there. Mr Coates received their representations most sympathetically. In conversation with a “Tribune” representative, Mr Coates said ho had nothing to say concerning his visit of inspection to the Port. Ho left again early this afternoon for Wellington. It is understood that aji early opportunity will be made by the exporting interests and those with a practical working knowledge of the port, to place representations before Mr Coates regarding facilities to enable the trade of the port to be carried on, giving overseas vessels undelayed despatch.