THE PORT OF WAITARA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 74, 20 November 1912, Page 5

THE PORT OF WAITARA.

STRATFORD MAN’S SUGGESTION

The Chandler of Commerce last night discussed a letter from Mr. Robert Masters, who, while unavoidably prevented from attending the meeting, wrote with reference to a matter which had engaged his attention.

“I have had for some time an impression,” he wrote, “that it would oe advisable for the Chamber to move in the matter of securing a more regular steamship service between Auckiand and Waitara, and Wellington and Waitara. As Waitara is nearer to Stratford than the Breakwater by seven miles, a considerable saving in freight can he made by the business people in and around Stratford, by drawing their supplies through - Waitara. On Class A goods, wnich includes practically all general goods, the saving would be 4s 8d per ton,; on Class B, which includes wire netting, hides, skins, paper, ploughs, aggricultural machinery, etc., the saving would be 3s Gd per ton. As a very large proportion of the hides and skins that are brought into Stratford are shipped to Auckland, the saving in freight by shipping through Waitara to Auckland is obvious. On class C, 2s 8d per ton, on Class D 2s per ton, and Class E, which includes produce of all kinds, lOd per ton, The saving would obtain in both our imports and exports if wo could have a regular service. 1 have gone fully into the matter, and find that a regular fortnightly service is being run, but what is required to make available the_ full benefit of shipping through Waitara would he a weekly service. If the trade is to ho done through Waitara, and I might state here that 1 have no feeling against the Now Plymont.i Port, but it is purely a business proposition, wo must go in for a comprehensive scheme, and this would require a meeting of those interested. With regard to a weekly service from Auckland, this to rny mind rests entirely with the consignees. If they instruct the consignors to ship through Waitara per s'.s. Claymore, then the company must run a boat weekly if the freight is offering and if tins Chamber can, by organisation, get the business people to do this, the difficulty, so far as Auckland is concerned, would be overcome. As far as the Wellington service is concerned, 1 feel that Messrs. Ogle and Co., the owners' of t'ne s.s. Taimii, are more than anxious 'to meet ns with a better service if the trade will warrant it. Only once has the Claymore had to discharge her cargo at New Plymouth instead of Waitara, and that was owing to fog, and smoke from heavy bush fires, in the summer of 1910. f would suggest that a committee he set up to go into the matter with Inglewood, Midhirst, and Eltham business people, and that representatives from these towns' see what can be done in their respective towns to promote the trade to Waitara, and if the Waitara Harbour Board would only move in the matter of improving the entrance it could soon be done.” Mr. McMillan: I think it is a good proposition to go into. I move that Messrs. Hewitt, Masters and Young be a committee to go into the matter. Mr. J. Munro seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent.