A BETTER PORT.

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1920, Page 2

A BETTER PORT.

THE FARMERS' VIEW. A VALUABLE OPINION. FROM BIG TRADING COMPANY. (Special to "Advocate.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Knowing that tho farmers of the .North, and Whangarei district particularly, are keenly interested in the development of the port, a representative of the "Advocate" to-day had an Interview with Mr James Boddie, chairman of Directors of the Farmers' Union Trading Company. Mr Boddie is not only a farmer of long standing both in Taranaki and in the North, but as the head of the big commercial concern of the farmers he is able, vso to speak, to give a valuable opinion regarding both sides of the balance-sheet. He not only has the practical knowledge, and the commercial knowledge, but also the outlook which makes it worth while heeding Ids advice. This is what Mr Boddie has to say about the improvement of Whangarei harbour:— "As one who has for over thirty years taken a keen interest in everything that tends to the development and progress of the farming interests of the Dominion, I look upon the proposed Whangarei harbour improvement scheme as one of the most necessary of the many development proposals at present being undertaken in almost all parts of the Dominion, and tho people of the North are, in my opinion, fortunate that they are possessed of pub-lic-spirited and progressive men, prepared to undertake such an important work. "

"There can be no doubt but that, with an improved rikrbour in which ocean-going steamers can load and unload, and the railway connection which is slowly but surely being provided, Whangarei is destined to be a very largo town in the very near future, and the North, long neglected and undeveloped, must become one of the most favoured aaid progressive .districts in the Dominion.

'' It requires jno prophetic vision to see that with a deep water harbour, a great impetus must be given to all methods of production, trade and commerce. Alrcady-a large quantity of wool, oiieat and dairy produce is available for export, which at present is being conveyed to Auckland for transshipment to the markets of the world//" Given improved harbour facilities, this " extra handling could be saved, and large bulk stores.erected at the port of Whangarei; thus business of all de-

scriptions would be greatly encouraged. Then, with its magnificent climate, its fertile soil, its improved harbour and railway conveniences, the North will come into its own, and the stigma of the past, 'the roadless North,' will be removed. Every progressive citizen recognises this, and it is to be hoped the public men of Whangarei will succeed in-providing what, in my opiuion, is one of the first and most necessary means for the development of their town and district."