PATEA’S- FACILITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 2

PATEA’S- FACILITIES

INSPECTION OF PORT AND WORKS.

VISIT OF HAWERA BUSINESSMEN.

Arranged through the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, a visit of inspection was paid by a group of Hawera businessmen to the Patea port yesterday. The object of the visit was to stimulate interest in the increase of import trade through the port. The- greatest interest was taken by those who attended in the loading of the motor vessel Inaha (the departure of which was viewed by the party from the breakwater), the handling of produce at the grading works and operations at the freezing works. The party was welcomed on arrival by Messrs. F. Parsons, chairman of the West Coast Refrigerating Company, and the South Taranaki Shipping Company, C. D. Dickie, chairman of the Patea freezing works, A. I. Christensen, chairman of the Patea Harbour Board, and F. Ramsbottom, Mayor of Patea. The party included Messrs. J. E. Campbell, Mayor of Hawera, and E. K. Cameron, chairman of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce executive. Mr. Ramsbottom said the port was as essential to Hawera as to Patea, and between the towns there was a happy community of interest. Patea had the distinction of being the largest cheese exporting port in New Zealand and probably in the world, but it required more import trade. If there were more cooperation in this matter it would be possible to reduce freight charges, and ultimately it was hoped that there would, be a reduction in rates, which would benefit everyone. He urged the business people of South Taranaki to help themselves by making more use of the port, the facilities at which they had that day inspected. He was sure that what the Hawera businessmen had seen would give them something to think about, said Mr. Christensen. He felt sure that the people of the district were interested in the finances of the harbour board. The record of service of the port of Patea to the residents of South Taranaki was one of which they were proud, said Mr. Parsons. Though a bar harbour it was an excellent one, as was shown by the fact that during the period of 15 months to June 30 375,000 crates of cheese and 93,000 boxes of butter were carried by sea from the port. The 47,000 crates of cheese carried so far in the present month constituted a record. If the port could export so much produce it could bring in as much by way of imports. He hoped the visit would be beneficial to all concerned. Shipping employed more labour per ton of cargo than any other form of transport. At the grader there was a. permanent staff of between 20 and 30, but at times there were between 50 and 60 employed there. He was pleased to have the opportunity of showing them the freezing works, said Mr. Dickie. What they had seen would give them an idea of how extensive the enterprise was. At times there were 200 men employed at the works, many of whom were Hawera and Normanby citizens.

He hoped that such visits would prove of mutual benefit to residents of Patea, Hawera and the surrounding districts, said Mr. Campbell. He was conscious of the fact that so many men were employed at Patea. Mr. Cameron congratulated the shipping company upon its enterprise in extending an invitation to bring the facilities at the port before the public of Hawera. The more that could be done to bring in back loads the more the costs could be reduced, which should ultimately bring a reduction in rates. When president of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce he had been pleased to be of assistance in the move to obtain

WijMUiin-irnn. «r« rm ; .-aia, relief in the railway freight between Patea and Hawera, said Mr. B. McCarthy. After inspecting the works he thought that there was a strong case to put to the Minister of Railways, and hoped that the matter would not be allowed to rest. It seemed incredible that the railway department would ignore the opportunity of getting more business through Patea. The railway department should follow the lead of the shipping company in giving freight reductions.