HARBOUR AFFAIRS,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19802, 18 May 1934, Page 6

HARBOUR AFFAIRS,

To the Editor of "The Timaru Herald” Sir, —As one who has spent the best part of a lifetime in Timaru, and knows something of the difficulties that beset our fathers in fashioning the finest artificial harbour south of the Line, may I trespass on your space to congratulate members (especially country members) of the Harbour Board on having at last thrown off the shackles which seemed to chain them to the chairman’s policy—a policy of laisser-faire that threatened disaster. They have lifted a load of anxiety from the minds of hundreds regarding the future of the priceless heritage that has been handed on to us. The penny-wise, pound-foolish policy which has prevailed for some time may result in large expenditure, but this possibility must be faced if Timaru is to remain something more than a port of transhipment to Lyttelton. For some time past the Board has been without expert advice, but happily this state of affairs seems likely to be ended, in the light of the vote of virtual no-confidence in the chairman’s anti-dredging policy. I suggest that the next step should be the engagement of an engineer to guide the Board in its efforts to safeguard the harbour. I am not aware how long the present chairman’s tenure of office has to run, but when it expires, the Board will have an opportunity of reverting to the old custom of appointing an honorary chairman, and applying the £IOO a year thus saved towards the salary of an engineer. Whether it sees fit to adopt this course or not, it is high time the era of amateur engineering ended and professional guidance sought regarding the strengthening of the eastern extension and the arrest of the rapid silting both in the Bay and in the inner basin. —I am etc., SOUTH-EASTER. Timaru, May 17.