THAMES HARBOUR SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18381, 23 April 1923, Page 8

THAMES HARBOUR SCHEME.

DAIRY COMPANY'S VIEWS.

WITHDRAWAL OF CIRCULAR. [BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ."' ' * ; ■ V MORRINSVILLE.' Sunday. .... Considerable surprise has been expressed throughout the district at the statement made by the chairman of tho Thames Harbour Board .to the directors o£ the New '■ Zealand " Dairy Company, concerning the Thames harbour improvement scheme, " that it was never intended to ; develop an export trade and should never havo been advocated ' as such." This is , said to be a direct contradiction of the evidence given he fore the commission and also the Bill which was brought down by Parliament. The secretary of the New i Zealand Dairy Company has issued the following statement: —"In the course of the campaign in support of: the Thames Barbour loan certain statements were made by some gentlemen that Thames had definite possibilities as an export ; port for the handling of dairy produce. It was contended that great quantities of dairy produce, which at present were railed to Auckland for export, would be sent to Thames in the event of the loan being carried, so that a great saving in freights would be secured. As this statement affected dairy produce the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., as the principal dairy • company operating in ; the district affected, drew up a circular to its suppliers, pointing out that Thames could not be developed suitably as an -export port, because experience proved that small ports did not receive sufficient > visits from overseas vessels to rapidly clear stocks, and it was essential in order to successfully market the company's produce that shipment overseas should be made promptly without undue delay. The advantages of Auckland in prompt shipment were so great as to discountenance any saving in rail freights that might be gained. Further, -it would be necessary to provide Cool stores at Thames at a heavy capital outlay. Mr. C. W. Harris, chairman of the Thames Harbour Board, in be*ing acquainted with the contents of the circular, waited upon the directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., who were meeiting in Hamilton on Thursday. The board's scheme, he said, was not intended to develop an export harbour at all, and should never have been advocated as such. The scheme was purely designed to improve the import facilities. It was desired to deepen the harbour so as to accommodate vessels drawing up to 18ft. of water. After hearing the explanation by Mr. Harris ' that the scheme was not intended to develop an export port the directors of the dairy company decided to accede to the request of Mr. Harris to withdraw the circular as it had been drawn up merely to counteract the statements made that the scheme would be of benefit for the export of dairy produce."

After the above statement made by the chairman of the board, it does not seem at all likely that the scheme will be carried, as some of its most ardent supporters have turned against it.