WEST COAST HARBOUR: WHY NOT “FILL THE GAP?”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 August 1944, Page 2

WEST COAST HARBOUR: WHY NOT “FILL THE GAP?”

ITo the Editoi 1 Sir. —Instead of spending up to £1 i . 000,000 on what may still not prove to ' be an all-weather harbour on the West j Coast, might I suggest that progressive 1 Nelson opinion again voice the appeal for consideration by the Government of the completion of the railway through from Inangahua Junction to Glenhope in order to secure for all West Coast freight the benefits of Nelson’s all-weather port? Wherever the contemplated new West Coast harbour is situated, freight will have to be railed to and from ib to most other parts of the Coast, with the result that it seems to be a stupid and uneconomic ' policy to duplicate •unnecessarily harhour facilities in a number of centres. Freight from the North Island, landed at Nelson and railed the rest of the distance, should reach its destination more quickly Ilian if taken all the way by sea to an unsatisfactory or unreliable West Coast port. A complete rail link from Nelson to the Coast (and incidentally to the Bluff) would reduce the costs of the existing system of part rail and part road haulage and should also assist the existing stretch of the Nelson line to pay its way. It is surely inconceivable that Nelson should always be without a completed rail link with the rest of the South Island—even military necessity dictates the completion of the line , —so why not let us demand that our : moneys be spent on making our pre-j sent inefficient line pay instead of on' a second harbour which may also be a losing proposition? The present lack i of unanimity amongst those pressing for the new West Coast harbour is to me concrete evidence of their doubt as I to the suitability of the West Coast fori an all-weather harbour. With increased! freight through Nelson, our own har ; hour could be provided with improved ' facilities which would no doubt result in our having a daily boat to the North 1 Island during the winter months. Such improved facilities should encourage ‘

the establishment here of those new in dustries about which enquiries hav recently been made. —I am. etc.. C. R. BARRETT. Stoke, 15th August.