FERTILISER WORKS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7104, 7 September 1949, Page 8

FERTILISER WORKS

NOT PRACTICAL AT TE KUITI TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES A phosphatic fertiliser works for Te Kuiti in the near future is definitely outside the bounds of possibility (reports the King Country Chronicle). This fact was accepted by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce at its last meeting, the reason being that it had been assured that cartage of the huge quantities of phosphatic by rail on the arrival of a ship from the phosphate islands would require many special trains, and this traffic could not be coped with by the Railway Department. It appears certain from this information that works at Te Kuiti, despite the proximity of serpentine for the manufacture of phosphatic fertilisers, must be considered impracticable,” commented the chairman, Mr E. M. Mackersey,' after reporting on the matter. Ten miles, he added, was held to be the maximum distance a works could be situated from a wharf. “THE OPPORTUNE TIME” • KAWHIA’S ADVANTAGE When this report was brought to the notice of Mr G. G. Jonathan, President of the Kawhia Chamber of Commerce, he observed: “I can only say with the utmost confidence that, in view of all the circumstances, include the increasing and most important demand for fertiliser, the only solution is the establishment of works on the deep waters of the Kawhia harbour, which could not be anything but a profound success.” Mjr Jonathan reinforced his assertion with the following reasons:— 1— Kawhia harbour could be worked by intercolonial boats in safety, and, inter alia, js the best port on the west coast of New Zealand and the nearest port to Sydney, with ample manoeuvring room, and also the nearest port to Nauru. 2 There |are inexhaustible limestone deposits of 98 per cent quality, and Professor Park, of Otago University, has declared that the biggest marl deposits in New Zealand are at Kawhia, which would be required should cement works also be estab--I’shed.

Mr Jonathan went on to say that, in view of the vast area of country which would be served, the 28 miles of railway line already surveyed would be an extremely . small cost proportionately when it was realised that the line in conjunction with the proposed fertiliser works, etc., would be of sueh importance and value over an art a which would include the whole of the King Country and the Upper Waikato as well as further afield.

“ It is quite appropriate,” Mr- Jonathan added, “that at the present time a joint move is being made, under the co-operation of the Kawhia County Council, by the Kawhia Chamber of Commerce and the Te Anga branch of Federated Farmers, in the matter and an effort may be made later to invite all responsible bodies to send a representative to Kawhia not only to acquaint themselves with the potentialities of the harbour, but to hold a conference with a view.'.to taking definite action.” NOT FAVOURED NEW PLYMOUTH AS KING COUNTRY PORT A motion moved by the President of Taumarunui and District Chamber of Commerce, Mr D. C. Seath, stating that the meeting considered that the port of New Plymouth was the King Country’s natural outlet lapsed for want of a seconder at a meeting of King Country local bodies and chambers of commerce at Taumarunui, no less than 34 delegates being present.