HARBOUR AT OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1930, Page 14

HARBOUR AT OPUNAKE

MONTHLY MEETING. OF BOARD. TOWN PLANNING NOT FAVOURED. The monthly meeting of the Opunake Harbour Board was held yesterday, when there were present Messrs. T. P. Hughson (chairman), H. Young, R. C. Watson, C. A. Trotter, J. A. Pettigrew and J. S, To.sland.... The harbourmaster (Captain G. Knowles) reported that during May reliable soundings were not obtainable owing to the bad weather. Frequent visits were made by Mr. P. Keller, district engineer, and examination had been made of all available data relating to port construction. Mr. Mclvor, county engineer, had assisted in sorting out figures and plans prepared by Mr. Corkill. Very heavy seas had broken over the .mole during the strong south-wester-ly gales that had been experienced, but no damage had been done; 'either to the mole or the staging. Mr. Fraser- had visited the wharf but was unable to state any definite time when he would be able to attend for sweeping operations. The chairman agreed that the investigation had been very thorough arid all the board could now do was await the result of the meeting of the Loans Board after the engineer’s report on he harbour had been submitted. The report was adopted. REGIONAL PLANNING. The chairman reported on the meeting of the Regional Planning Commission’s sitting at New Plymouth, which he had attended on behalf of the board. Harbour boards could not elect a member to the proposed board, but as there was power to add their representation could be included. He had pointed out that the big centres would be able to dominate and the backbldcks would be left out in the cold. Mr. Trotter: ' No, the backblocks

would have to feed them. We have found that out before in Taranaki. The chairman said the scheme savoured of centralisation. Mr. Trotter said that Australia had tried centralisation with disastrous results. There must be equal development if a country was to succeed.’ Mr. Tosland said it seemed as if the scheme was another tax on the producer to keep a “lot of men in fat billets.” Mr. Pettigrew said that the farmers were against the setting up of any further boards. He did not like the idea of centralisation. He thought it would not mean development but stagnation. It would eliminate competition between the various towns and competition was essential. One of the greatest causes of unemployment, said Mr. Tosland, was the fact that there were too many nori-producers. This was an endeavour to find some plausible scheme to find billets. Districts would make use of their natural outlets despite all town planning. Mr. R. Day, chief inspector of the New Plymouth borough, notified that there was now growing on the borough farm at Fitzroy a new grass (kikua) which was very suitable for sand. He offered the board some roots for trial on its sand stretches. It was resolved to,thank Mr. Day for his offer and to notify him that when one of the board members is next in New Plymouth le will visit the farm in order to inspect the grass. The Valuation Department notified that a revision of the Egmont county had just been completed and new rolls would be forwarded shortly. Some discussion took place as to whether the rate would be struck on the new valuation. Mr. Tosland understood there would be objection in some districts to the high unimproved value. It was thought the objection's would be considered before it was necessary to strike the rate and the new valuation would then be available.