HARBOUR AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923, Page 9

HARBOUR AT THAMES.

OPPOSITION TO THE SCHEME. UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE NOT PAYABLE PROPOSITION, [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] MORRINSVILLE. Friday. Severe criticism of the Thames Harbour Board's scheme for harbour improvements at Thames, to cost £60,000, ■was offered by a representative delegation opposing the scheme at a meeting at Morrinsville. The speakers were Messrs. B. Coulter, Mayor of Te Aroha, and a member of the Board 3. Price, Matamata; E. McGregor and W. C. Cargill, Morrinsville. Mr. Coulter stated that Mr. C. Y. O'Connor, one of the leading engineers in Australia, when asked if it were possible to make a harbour at Thames, had said:— "Yes. if you have patience enough and money enough, but if you have brains enough you won't attempt it." He pointed out that as far as Te Aroha and Morrinsville were concerned, the Waihou River was their waterway, as with this river they had direct communication with Auckland. He stated that after the £60,000 had been spent the new wharf would only be able to accommodate one intercolonial boat at a time, and this would have to come in and go out on the tide. Mr. J. Price showed that the revenue of the board would be £9671 15s, and the total expenditure a year, in interest, ! etc., £30,675. a loss of £21,000 ss. Allowing for the saving in freights, etc., at £10,064 10s. the net loss would be £10,938 a year, and the district would have to make this up. Before they could export beef and mutton they must erect * freezing works ,;■ at Thames, •• of : which there '■- were now as many in - the Dominion' as were required. ■ Mr. Price said Mr. : Blair Mason had said the dredging of '.the channel 12ft» deep was going to cost £34,300. Mr. Adams, the board's engineer, ■ gave the figure' at £8861 for the channel 6ft. deep, swinging basin and berthage 9ft. deeper than the channel. A 6ft. channel would cost £6000, lout to give another 6ft. would cost - £28,000. Mr. McGregor spoke from a farmer's point of view, stating that Jut? was the farmer who was going to pay for the scheme. • ,„_• .; . ~ „, ; . _ Mr. W. C. Cargill : criticised the figures and statement made by the supporters of the scheme. He said that it was of far more importance to concentrate on the great scheme of developing the natural waterways than to spend money attempting to create an artificial harbour. The Hauraki Plains were blessed with a net of rivers and drains which were unequalled in the , Dominion and could be converted to' i the ■ j most magnificent canal ,system, providing cheap and expeditious transit from : all ports of . the , district to the - central port of Auckland. ; . ;':..■■ '-■:■.'■ : * \.. After the meeting a strong committee was formed to see that electors wenfc to the poll. It is the intention of the opponents of the scheme to * visit every part of the Thames Valley and address meetings in opposition. ■ ~ '■','.-.-~ 7..,.;■ OBJECTION IN IttATAiMATA. COUNTY COUNCIL ACTIVE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.! " . \:: TIRAU. Friday. Final arrangements have been made by the Matamata' County Council in the organisation of opposition to I the \ Thames Harbour Loan poll on April 26. "A draft circular has been approved for issue to every_ ratepayer in 1 the :county urging the recording of votes, against -; the loam. In addition, each councillor undertook to ensure full voting in his riding on polling i day.:-' ''.-•' ' ' ! r7 ; V-'■' ' - .-. °