THE PORT OF OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 3

THE PORT OF OTAGO

Sir,—l am tempted, by mention of Harbour Board affairs and your sub-leader in to-day’s issue, to offer some observations on harbour matters as they appear to a person with some business with this port. First, let me hasten to dissociate myself from any political bias in my reaction to news of Mr Clarke's election to the chairmanship of the board and to assure you that I am not acquainted with any member of that board. My pleasure came entirely from the knowledge that a change had been made, for some change seems long overdue. I should say that no harbour in New Zealand was, on the outbreak of war, found so seriously wanting in aids and equipment, so lacking in up-to-date facilities, for the handling of cargo, as Otago Harbour, and very few to-day that cannot give vessels a quicker despatch. A valuable overseas vessel, in war-time, spends a fortnight in Dunedin loading 6000 to 7000 tons of cargo; a coastal ship with 3000 tons to discharge or load takes a week to do it. Chronic congestion in all the ridiculously small sheas, and vessels shifting from berth to berth to find a little space to dump a few tons of cargo before shifting again. A mile of wharfage—but two cranes! Two! In some main ports six cranes besides the ship’s own gears will be seen working in one ship, with possibly, on the other side of the pier, another ship similarly at work.

“ Time is the essence ” —and as much as any other industry to-day every hour counts. We can only dismiss as archaic to-day facilities that would have been adequate in 1881. That year—lßßl—was from the pamphlet

“ Port of Otago,” over Mr Thompson's signature, that in which the Victoria channel was opened—by the Penguin, 680 tons. I was not around here at that time, but presumably the navigational aids installed then were Intended to last 100 years. Certainly, from my own observations extending over a-quarter of a century (somehow I feel that the Otago Harbour Board likes to deal in centuries), it has been unchanged from that modernistic air inseparable from “ hurricane lamps stuck up on sticks,” as I heard one captain describe it; this in 1945—and ships, not of 680 tons, but of 3000 to 4000 tons, working the_ channel night and day. Mr Clarke is, I understand, an ex-seafarer. Perhaps some of his voyages took him to Melbourne, and he has seen the riverlighting system there. Who knows? Perhaps we might even get it here one day. The Port of Otago for the last three months has been closed to shipping during the dark hours. Japanese submarines outside? No, no—the end of the entrance Mole was washed away, and, pending establishment of some aids to navigation there, vessels lie alongside the wharves all night until daylight—more valuable hours lost. I wonder could Mr Clarke get anything done about this—soon. I would not have you think that I am altogether unaware of certain grandiose schemes for improvements, extension, development, and what not to the port. I admit that I am very hazy about the particulars, but I somehow feel that, although ” vision and enthusiasm ” are all very well, time is short, and at the rate of progress made in the last 25 years I would need to live to about 340 to see the scheme really blossoming. Under those circumstances, I regret. Sir, I cannot get very enthusiastic. “ Miles of additional berthage ” —why not make use of what we have? " Deepening of Victoria channel for larger ships ” —to add to the congestion here?

Otago as a port is 30 years behind the times—it will cost money to bring it up to date. If Mr Clarke can do something towards doing it he will deserve our thanks. Government loans may not benefit so much in the future—the board as a whole may not experience that particularly Dunedinish feeling of satisfaction engendered by a solid wad of giltedged securities tucked away in a reserve—but, after all, it is a Harbour Board, and to a layman at least the term implies a body concerned with a harbour, and not primarily a financial institution.— I am, etc., Get a Move On. Dunedin, June 8.

SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES

Sir,—Many thanks to Mr Cole for his reply, and I am pleased to see that he agrees that this is not the first time that New Zealand has been inflicted with incompetent men in the Cabinet. With regard to his remarks regarding Messrs Coates and Forbes, was it not during their term of office that they imposed the “ rate of exchange? ” Did they have an express mandate from the people to do this? Did they seek express autliority to set up the Reserve Bank and give it the sole right of note issue in New Zealand? And besides, these two gentlemen were apparently at loggerheads themselves, because after they left office Mr Forbes said if we underwent another depression he would carry out the same policy again, while Mr Coates was man enough to say that they made a mistake, and he would not do the same thing again. Has not socialisation of credit always been one of the main planks of the Labour Party? Almost every Labour M.P. has declared himself to be a Socalist. The people were aware of this, and if they elect these then to Parliament, as they have done since 1935, they must be prepared to accept the legislation they put through, whether It be good or bad. The solution the people have is in the ballot box, and I am prepared, as I am sure Mr Cole is, to accept the verdict of the people in their choice of members of Parliament. Not to accept that decision would be a negation of democracy.— I am. etc., Willie. North-East Valley, June 8.