CHANGING THE DOCK SITE. The Driftwood of Argument.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 397, 8 February 1908, Page 6

CHANGING THE DOCK SITE. The Driftwood of Argument.

AT the meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board held on Monday last Mr. R. Fletcher moved to the effect that the Board rescind the resolution, authorising the construction of the new dock at Clyde Quay, with the view of finding a more advantageous site at Evans Bay. Whereupon, Mr. Wilford moved as an amendment: — "That the secretary be instructed to ascertain from the contractors for the dock, and report to the Board, whether they are willing to cancel their present contract, and upon what terms." He submitted that Mr. Fletcher had begun at the wrong end. If his motion were passed the Board would be at the mercy of the contractors. If the Board passed the motion it would lose its reputation for business sagacity. • • • As a matter of fact, in this case even Mt. Wilford's amendment would never suffice to save the situation. Of Mr. Fletcher's work on the Harbour Board we have nothing to say but praise. His zeal is most commendable, and his integrity of purpose at all times undoubted. Wellington has had such good service at his hands that we can confidently look for his return to office at the forthcoming election. But in the particular matter of changing the site of the new dock from Clyde Quay to Evans Bay the plan is as unwarranted by conditions as it would be inadvisable from a legal point of view. • • • Take the arguments in favour of the proposed change, and they resolve themselves virtually into a mere patter about "strong winds blowing towards Clyde Quay," "the accumulation of driftwood and floating debris around the dock," and similar weak objectkxns to the present site. That Evans Bay must ultimately be an important locality with our shipping is certain. Time may even bring another dock to this city, whose shipping promises to become enormous with passing years. Melbourne has its three docks, two of which have just been very greatly enlarged to meet the increased shipping at the port. It is quite possible that in time to come Evans Bay, with its thriving industrial wharves, may demand a dock. * ♦ * But that is beside the present point at issue. If the present chosen, site is so utterly unsuitable as Mr. Fletcher's motion implies, what is to be said of those who originally selected the site? One thing has to be admitted, that Mr. Fletcher quoted no expert opinion in advancing his theories of "prevailing winds and floating fruit skins." The Board could scarcely proceed to squash its former plans on the unsubstantial arguments set up. * » • But, on the other hand, the adoption of the suggested change of site would be calamitous to the Board from financial and equitable standpoints. As the chairman,, the Hon. T. Kennedy Macdooald, pointed out, there would have to be a cancelling of legislation on the subject, and an adjustment of interests with the City Council and the Government before the suggested change of plan could be carried into effect. The financial loss involved would be something in the region of £200,000 in all. The £20,000 already expended, the Hunter-street reclaimed area given over to the Council in exchange for the site, and by special Government intervention, and other amounts involved in the great undertaking, which form an insurmountable barrier to the proposed change. The position

of the Harbour Board, after having made such an unqualified mess of things, going forward to borrow a. million pounds, in part to retrieve its error, if such existed or were admitted, would be such >as to make them a by-word and reproach for ever and a day in the eyes of the business community of the Dominion. But no strong case has so far been made out in support of the change.