ONE PORT OR TWO PORTS?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 19

ONE PORT OR TWO PORTS?

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—Some years ago I read a report in the Otago Daily Times of a meeting ot the Otago Harbour Board in winch the then chairman, Mr Walter Gow, in answer to a question by a member as to which was the actual port of Otago-Dunedm or Port Chalmers— replied Both. Up to the present day that answer has apparently stood as the only answer which could be given, as no one has been prepared to lay definitely which place is to oe considered as the port of Otago. Now, however, we know where we are, since, as a member of the deputation which waited on the Railways Board on Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor (the Kev. Ji. J. • Cox) "stressed the fact that m the near future Port Chalmers must be the main shipping terminal for the province of Otago." This statement will prove vastly satisfying to Messrs T. Scollay and A. Campbelf, the Port Chalmers members of the board, but it will not be bo satisfying to Dunedin merchants. Why, if the Mayor can speak with such authority,, is there any reason for the expense which has been incurred, and is being incurred, to bring the Dunedin wharves up to tiie standard required to load and unload the large sea-going vessels? Still the an has been cleared, and it has fallen to the honour of Mr Cox. who has been with us only a few years, to tell Otago which w to be its main port, while the Port Chalmers waterside workers will be pleased, the Dunedin waterside workers will, i know, be very displeased. It also remains for the Dunedin members of the board to say whether they will fall into line with the Mayor's straight-put dictum.—l am, etc, Under Below.