DREDGING AT TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19835, 26 June 1934, Page 6

DREDGING AT TIMARU.

DR.LJJUJ.JNCj Ai J. j.ivj.£uvu. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir—As your readers may not know the full contents of our letter to the Timaru Harbour Board, with reference to delays to overseas ships, I should be glad if you will print same, as per enclosed copy. I should like to diaw the attention of the public to the questionable practice whereby our lettei (which might have had an important bearing on the voting as to sending the dredge to Oamaru) was suppressed until this matter had been decided. 1 might add that delays to an overseas ship cost the company concerned between £2OO and £3OO perday, according to the size of the ship; and the same farmer members who voted the dredge away are exactly the class of people who, through their Farmers’ Unions, send up remits asking for reductions in overseas freights. To me, it hardly seems ordinary business courtesy for a legitimate compaint of delay from a shipping agent, who, when all is said and done, is a customer of the Board, to be merely received. I might add that my firm pays the Board over £4OOO annually in dues, and naturally expects some modicum of attention in return. —I am, etc., D. C. TURNBULL. Timaru, June 25. I Enclosure.] Copy. Timaru, 20th June, 1934. The Secretary, Timaru Harbour Board, Timaru. Dear Sir, As we understand the Board is contemplating restricting the working of the dredge, we would like to bring ' o their notice the delay in despatching two vessels to our agency, which would not have been incurred had there been a greater depth of water in the channel. On Thursday last the “Cambridge”

completed loading at 9.30 p.m., but wan not despatched till 5.15 the following morning. On Monday the 18th the “Port Napier” completed loading at 10.30 p.m. and also had to wait for high water the following morning. In the event of vessels proceeding to Lyttelton this delay would mean the loss of a whole working day, which is a serious expense to an overseas vessel and in each case Timaru was only the second loading port. Yours faithfully. D. C. TURNBULL & CO.