STORAGE INCREASE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 6

STORAGE INCREASE

EXTENSIONS PROPOSED WAITARA AND MOTUROA GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY In preparation for any contingency which may arise the Government intends increasing considerably storage space at the Waitara and Moturba freezing works, according to information given the Daily News yesterday. In the event of a naval blockade of any kind the extra space would be required to hold the substantial quantities of mutton, beef, lamb, butter and cheese exported every year. Unofficial confirmation of the project is given from auother source, which states that some coastal ships used for transhipping cargoes at New Zealand ports may be required for other purposes. If that were so, frozen meat from South Taranaki would probably be railed to New Plymouth and Waitara either for direct shipment or for storage until suitable opportunities arose. Because of a shortage of labour and the possibility of even more serious shortages in the near future, the Government intended concentrating a number of men on the ! freezing works at Waitara shortly, it was stated. The Moturoa works also would reeeive attention, it was stated. As a result of this projected activity some other departmental works would be deferred. Railway extension work at Midhirst had already been postponed until more urgent work at New Plymouth and Waitara was completed, it was stated. A number of men started work on the imprt vement of shunting facilities at New Plymouth on Monday and more will be transferred to this undertaking shortly.