SUMMARY.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY.

THE HARBOUR

(From "The Colonist," March 4.)

Wb are glad to see that the Harbour Board has finally decided to go to the ratepayers on a, proposal to raise a loan for the carrying out of Mr. Leslie Reynolds ' s major scheme for the improve-

ment of the harbour. The Board being

in possession of all the necessary m- - formation, and convinced of the necessity for the work, there was no occasion for further delay. Indeed, though the loss of time up to the present has been to some extent unavoidable, we think the appeal to the ratepayers has been postponed quite long enough. The works it is proposed to; carry outj and the necessity for them, have already been fully discussed, and before the poll is taken, on April 29th meetings of ratepayers will bo held in the various portions, of the harbour district, at which members of the Board will further explain the scheme. It is sufficient here to say that the operations recommended by Mr. Reynolds, and approved . by the Marine Department, viz., the dredging of the cut through the Boulder Bank to a depth of 17 feet at low water spring tides, by a bottom width of 500 feet, and the deepening and improvement of the channel inside and outside the harlxmr, will afford facilities for vessels up to 600 feefc in length to be handled with safety and without the present restrictions. A point of equal importance is that with the improved accommodation Nelson need be no longer a last port of call and first of departure, a factor which would not only* contribute materially to a more frequent and regular oversea service, but would greatly minimise the risks and inconvenience inseparable from the present conditions of export of perishable produce. The Sfbsolute necessity for all ports which wish to cater for oceangoing vessels making timely provision for modern developments in shipbuilding is now freely recognised. It was emphasised in evidence before the Empire Trade Commission by such authorities as Lord Pirrie and Sir William Byles, to whose statements we referred the other day, and in the Commission's recent interim report on Australia and New Zealand. These developments have brought about conditions which were not contemplated a few years ago, and before long harbour authorities who do not keep pace with them will have to be satisfied with infrequent and irregular services maintained by the

few liners of the smaller class that are

likely to be left in the Australian service, until they too disappear from the oversea trade. In its reference to this subject in its report, the Empire Trade Commission said: "It is doubtful whether the authorities of the Australian and New Zealand harbours are properly alive to the quick increase in draught which is in prospect. .. . The Commission cannot urge too strongly that the governing bodies of the ports should devote earnest consideration to the problems of deepening their harbours." Tho maintenance of regular and reliable communication with the oversea markets is indispensable to the prosperity and development of this district, and as the chairman of the Board showed yesterday, it can be attained at the cost of a very small rate. It is to be hoped that the practical unanimity of the Board on the subject reflects the feeling of the ratepayers throughout the district.