TIMARU HARBOUR MATTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19862, 27 July 1934, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOUR MATTERS.

To the Editor ol " The Tlraaru Herald

Sir—What an incomprehensible difference there is between the farseeing commonsense principles of the inherent qualities of one genus homo as represented by the members of the Napier Harbour Board, as against that of the chairman and certain of the country members of the Timaru Harbour Board! One would think that they belonged to the humans of two distinct planets. Napier’s “backbones” have submitted to and have received the approval of ratepayers, of a scheme to cost £335,000 to construct the necessary works forthwith so that they will be in a position to face the menace of centralisation, because they very wisely recognise that they, thereby can produce the requisite evidence to prove that they will be in a position to cater for, and meet all shipping requirements at that port for the next 25 years; failing that, the trade of the port would gradually out steadily be taken from it. But what about the Timaru Harbour Board? From the tone of his remarks at the late conference, it would certainly appear that the chairman would be more inclined to see centralisation than not, and after assuring the world at large that it was out of the power of the Board not only to control, but to meet the position, he pathetically expressed a hope “that there would always be a company which would run against centralisation and pick up trade from the smaller ports.” Even Oamaru is standing on its dignity, in the hopes of holding its own, and mere power to it ! In the present policy of the Board in allowing the port to look after itself, assisted, manifestly, by the selfassertive powers of Nature, the chairman considers they were going a long way to meet centralisation if and when the time came (and they then will get their share and more than they asked for or wanted!) which he hopes will not be for 18 years. He trusts that the centralisation schemers will refrain, like good little boys, from raiding his orchard, and stealing any Of his prize golden apples in the meantime. Ye gods! And he has distinctly given us to understand that he is not pugnacious, and would have no desire to interfere with such purloining acts, if they thought they would be justified in changing the ownership of such golden fruitage. How time has changed nature! The pioneers of this district, with clear visions of what the future should be. built up the port as a fitting heritage to their descendants, but the new blood of the district, like all new brooms, not being endowed with the soul or spirit of those colonising forefathers, would now sell such heritage to make a jubilee for the main ports! Are we to lose our heritage just because the chairman and his “automaton” confreres, are troubled with “cold feet”? About six years ago. the whole position and its probabilities, both of the wool roster and centralisation. were pointed out to them, and the thanks were of the “pooh-pooh” nature. Now, with the fateful centralisation staring them in the face, what have the know-all-know-nothings got so say for themselves? If centralisation is carried out, it certainly will serve them right, and they would not have much public sympathy, but it will be a sore affliction on a lot of the poor deluded innocents, who were trusting to those broken reeds to preserve them from such an inglorious fate. Nearly the whole of the trouble if that scheme is carried out, will be found to hinge on the most inefficient state of the harbour. Shippers and shipping companies know exactly what has, and is likely to be, going on and, as a wise precaution, they will not take the risk of jeopardising any of their property, just because the Board members think fit to camouflage the position. There is a limit to all forbearance, and it is only justifiable to understand that shipping will go where it will get the most satisfaction with the least risk. Every sounding and other item is “logged” for and against each port by each vessel visiting it, and Timaru’s slate is not by any means a clean one. Considering that the country members, individually, have so much to lose by centralisation, it is most interesting to understand that their powers of farseeing go-aheadness, which should safeguard the interests of everyone in the harbour district, have, when weighed in the balance with that of other harbour boards, been discovered to be so small as to be almost negligible. Unless the miracle of miracles comes to pass, ratepayers in the Timaru Harbour district can rest assured that they are not likely to feel the benefits of any progressive movements on the part of the majority of the Board, as at present constituted, being instituted against the thin edge of the wedge of centralisation being driven in any further in the attempt to usurp the privileges and powers they have held so long as their rights. “Facts are chiels that winna ding, an’ daurna be disputet!”—l am, etc., A. J. MORRIS. Timaru, July 26.