HARBOUR RECLAMATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 June 1927, Page 5

HARBOUR RECLAMATION

(To the Editor) Sir, —Referring to the proposed reclamation at Port Nelson. Can the chairman say what wharfage will be lost by petrol coming iu bulk tankers as compared with present methods. It seems to mo all the advantage will be with the large oil companies interested rather than the Nelson public. There will also he a considerable decrease in labour required, and this will hit our present wharf labourers pretty hard. Both the above items want very careful thought, and the Board certainly cannot afford to lose actual revenue merely for the sake of earning 51, per cent interest on capital to be expended on a doubtful proposition. It is the opinion of a good number of ratepayers and others that any available money would he better spent on making the harbour more suitable for direct export or our produce rather than holster up the oil companies in an undertaking which rightly they should do for themselves seeing it is mainly for their own benefit. I think our chairman is wise in not rushing ahead too fast with a proposition that is of a very doubtful nature. —I am, etc., INTERESTED PARTY.

A copy of the foregoing was referred to Mr H. R. Duncan, chairman of the Harbour Board. He stated that the points raised were important ones and were being considered at the presenttime. As to the revenue question, the chairman was of opinion that if the Board does not supply a site for the oil companies, the latter will obtain one in another locality, so the Board might eventually lose revenue either way. As to reclamation, he was looking at itfrom the point of view of getting rid of the spoil in a way that would provide an asset, instead o'f taking it out to sea at present, with a probability of a certain quantity finding its way into the harbour aiiain