Bay County Council On North Fertiliser Works

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1947, Page 6

Bay County Council On North Fertiliser Works

'Special) 1 KAWAKAWA, This Day. ' “WE feel that a big step forward was taken by the Minister of Agriculture in Whangarei when he undertook to try to get an impartial committee appointed by Cabinet to go into the question of the North’s need for a fertiliser works, also into its site ana the machinery required for it. . ~ , “We must not be parochial on this matter, no matter how certain we may be of the best site for the works; the big thing is to get a works in Northland.” , Expressed by both the chairman (Cr H. T. Atkinson) and by Mr S. W. Smith, M.P. for Hobson, this view reflected the opinions of Bay of Islands county councillors when they discussed the recent conference with the Minister, convened by the Whangarei Harbour Board.

Mr Smith attended during the early j afternoon, and the discussion which had started in the morning was reopened. COOPERATIVE WORKS WANTED Before Mr Smith left, the council had acted on a suggestion that a move should be made to organise influential opinion among such bodies as the Moerewa freezing works management, Northland dairy companies. Federated Farmers, etc., with the objective of arousing support for a farmers cooperative works. Mr Smith mentioned that he and others had been interested years ago in such a proposition, but the existing Government had declined a licence for it. A licence was not necessary but, on the other hand, licences would be necessary before machinery to operate a fertiliser works could be imported. As first shot in the campaign, Cr C. F. Jones was appointed to approach the freezing works management, in Auckland if necessary, to seek their support, also to contact the Minister to ask his intentions regarding the committee of investigation. Crs Jones and J. R. Morris, who is also a member of the Bay of Islands Harbour Board, were appointed a subcommittee to prepare a detailed summary on the possibilities and advantages of having a fertiliser works situated handy to the port of Opua. CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS Bulk of the fertiliser from a Northland works would undoubtedly be used today in the vicinity of, and south of Whangarei but, against that, the bulk of the land to be brought in within the next three or four decades would be well north of Whangarei, Cr Atkinson considered.

been taken to a proposed site on Whangarei Harbour, and Mr Morris had had to restrict himself to discussions on the relationship between the fertiliser works and the existing freezing works at Mderewa. The meeting, perhaps unfortunately, had not been well attended by delegates of dairy companies and farmers’ organisations, but that was not the fault of the conveners. He was surprised at the strong interest apparently being taken by a number of smaller organisations in and about Whangarei. A similar degree of interest was certainly not being shown elsewhere in Norhland as yet. Cr J. Hay, who is chairman of directors of the Hikurangi Dairy Company, and who also attended the Whangarei meeting, bore out Mr Morris’ comments. M.P. ON OPUA’S FUTURE When Mr Smith arrived in the afternoon, he was acquainted with the discussion to date and was asked to comment on the position obtaining in regard to the re-opening of Opua to overseas shipping. The member said he frankly did not know what was blocking Opua. He had talked himself blind to the Ministers, had read all the commission reports on the subject—and still could get nowhere. He did not believe tne overseas shipowners were the stumb-ling-block. Cr Morris: I really think it is principally the port of Auckland and the overseas owners.

He added that he was certain that if all the transport services of the North were coordinated on Opua. it would save the farmers of the entire province a tremendous amount of money. He instanced several possibilities ct such coordination. Cr Jones considered the freezing company would be interested. Cr Hay said the first thing to do was to arrange organised opinion in the North behind a move for a cooperative works. Following more disc’/;sion, appointments of Crs Jones and Morris were resolved upon, as stated. CHURCH NOTICES LANTERN LECTURE GOSPEL HALL BANK STREET at 7.50 p.m. . TOMORROW (SATURDAY) MR T. BRUTON, of the Unevangelised Fields Mission, will present slides on tne Mission’s work in Papua. All welcome. No collection. SUNDAY JUNE 15, 1947. CHURCH OF ENGLAND Second Sunday alter Trinity Parish Church—B a.m., 9.45 .a.m. and 7 p.m. Armstrong Avenue —9 a.m. Mangapai—ll.ls a.m. (followed by annual meeting). One Tree Point—2 p.m. Portland—7 p.m. A. E. PR’EBBLE, Vicar. MAORI SERVICES Pehiaweri —11 a.m. Ngunguru—2.3o p.m. P. TIPENE. Maori Priest.

A private firm would certainly' go after the site where there would be the quickest return. A cooperative concern might take the longer view with a greater mutual benefit. The Whangarei Harbour Board, he stated, deserved the greatest credit for having called the recent conference with the Minister and for having got things moving as it did. “At that conference everybody said that the site of the works was the thing farthest from their minds—and I believe them,” said Cr Atkinson.

“Our greatest need is that we should get a works in Northland,, wherever it may be. Now is not the time to enter into any Whangarei-Opua controversy.” NO DISCUSSION ON SITE

Cr Morris commented at length on the Whangarei meeting, which he had attended and at which he had spoken. The chairman there had not permitted any discussion on the question of site, although the Minister had already