DEEP-WATER PORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19023, 25 May 1936, Page 4

DEEP-WATER PORT

WAIKOKOPU PLAN GISBORNE REJECTION "NOT POVERTY BAY'S VOICE" Deep regret concerning the attitude adopted by the Gisborne Harbour Board, with regard to the proposal for developing deep-water berthage at Waikokopu, for the mutual benefit of the Wairoa and Gisborne harbour districts, was expressed in a letter received by the Gisborne board to-day from Mr. Jo.seph Corkill, chairman of the Wairoa board. . • Mr. Corkill intimated that in his opinion the view put forward by, tire Gisborne board did not represent the' voice of Poverty Bay as a whole,'and that at sonic time in; the future-, the' project would be taken tip as one leecssary to the prosperity of, the joint districts. The letter from the Wairoa Harbour Board chairman, Mr. Joseph Corkill, was as under:— '■On behalf of the .Wairoa Harbour Board. I have to thank you for report dated April 21, 1936, on the, Waikokopu deep-sea harbour proposal. The position 1 appears to be fairly clearly set out, on the one side, showing that it would hot be of any advantage to Poverty Bay to join up with Wairoa in making a deepsea harbour at Waikokopu. "Your report does not in any way show the many advantages that would benefit the farmer, who is the only exporter, nor does it show that any benefits would be derived by the importers, which would put the town of Gisborne on ■ a level with the four centres. ' It appears to my board that what concerns you most, is the anticipated loss l of £B7OO, collected mainly from wharfages and port dues on your exports; the factbeing that this amount is derived from the farmers of the district, who are the only exporters. AMENDMENT OF ACT "Referring to the statement in your report, that, any excess profit at Waikokopu would tiave to be used and spent there, or that the harbour dues would aave to be reduced, my board is aware that the Harbours Act requires this to be done, but there would appear that there would be no difficulty in amending the Act to make provision for the use of the profit at tho two ports, pro rata, within the same rating area. "The question of wages paid at your port now, which you claim would be lost under the new conditions. To some extent it would appear to be so, but men would be required to handle the meat and produce at Gisborne, into trucks instead of lighters, and as it would be only one hour's ran by train.from the works to the ship, there appeal's to be no reason why the men could not travel with the meat, .and assist in the loading operations at Waikokopu. \ , "On the question of weather conditions that might cause frozen goods to be returned to the works, 1 would,point out that this has occurred only on one or two occasions in many years, but that will entirely disappear when the vessel is berthed at the wharf. The open roadstead will always be liable to cause this trouble, but not with the ship at the wharf, as it is only one hour's rail journey and tho weather conditions could not, upset the loading in that lime, so that trouble will have disappeared, and the handling of the meat could be done in half the time it now' takes. LOWER WHARFAGE CHARGES "The saving claimed on lightering as against railway carriage is not so great as you slate in your report, and taking into account the lower wharfage charges at Waikokopu, as against Gisborne; charges, the difference to the exporter would be small, and it certainly appears to my board that all the points of advantage in favour of Waikokopu have been carefully avoided. "Tho main reasons my board had for moving in the matter have not been touched upon in the report: The possibility of the railway connection with Waikokopu and the chilled beef, which is the future of the. beef industry, commanding higher prices, which cannot be handled in a lightering port, and may in time have to be railed to Wellington, appears to my board to be the best argument in favour of a deep-sea port at Waikokopu. "The difficulty of loading into trucks is not a serious, one, nor does the question of a siding, which, it is stated 1 , the Borough Council might not permit, appear to be a serious one, as the Public Works Act provides for these difficulties. "Your report mentions 'that meat placed on board the vessels in the Gisborne roadstead is in a condition equal to any port in New Zealand, and so far. as a roadstead port is concerned, that may be so • but when the meat is loaded into the vessel alongside wharves, it is generally recognised that there isa wonderful difference in its appearance, and much more attractive when opened up'in London—and after inquiries made,' my board is, of the opinion that.it would be safe to assume that on the total tonnage of meat exported from your district (12,123 tons) there would be an increase of £d per pound owing to better facilities for the handling of meat, which would mean an increase to the producers of £14,143. LOSSES OF LOADING TIME "There is also the saving in time in loading that should be. considered, which can be reduced by half, if loaded into a' vessel at a wharf--and taking the saving of say one. day on the 35 overseas vessels at £3OO per'day would mean £10,500. .Sooner or later the. Harbour Boards must realise that there will be open competition in overseas freights, and the ports that have the facilities to offer must command the best freight, the present flat rate being only a war-time measure still operating. .- "Mv board is sorry that you are not so keenly interested in the proposal as it hoped, but thinks that sooner or later you will sec your way to further investigate the possibilities and advantages of the.deep-sea port at Waikokopu; and whilst my board accepts your decision with regret at the moment, it feels that it is not the voice of Poverty Bay, this being the. decision my board members have come to after meeting a great many settlers in your district. "The extra price that would be paid for fat stock at a deep-sea port, as against the prices ruling at a lightering port, would, in the opinion of my board. more than repay for all losses sustained at the port of Gisborne, "In conclusion I sincerely trust*you will reconsider your decision in regard to the proposal submitted by mv board, and further investigate the position. My board will be only too pleased to furnish any further data or particulars you may require, and to meet you at any time

to further discuss the proposal, as it considers that the development" of the port is most essential to the Poverty Bay and Wairoa districts, and the necessity for an East Coast deep-sea harbour will be more apparent as time goes op. "P.S.—When a deep-sea port is established at Waikokopu, the wool sales at Gisborrie must naturally follow." When the letter was. read the' chairman. Mr. J. Tombleson, moved that it be acknowledged in the usual course, (his motioii being seconded by Mr. M. T. Trafford and carried without discussion. ''" ' :