The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1945. Future Of Secondary Ports

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23316, 27 September 1945, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1945. Future Of Secondary Ports

TN the House of Bepre;, dives on 1 iii'sdiiy. the Rev. (Jv< .* ('jit. in discussing the future of the Port of Timaru. said it was nei-essarv to encourage both coastal and overseas shipping so that secondary ports could be maintained and the expenditure involved in improving them met. Mr Carr rightlv drew attention to the danger facing Timaru and other smaller ports which have suffered heavily throughout the war on account of the centralisation of shipping. The greatest danger now is that the practices which were necessary in wartime may be continued long into the post-war period. If that is done, then large capital investments will be jeopardised and heavier burdens will be imposed upon ratepayers in the affected areas. Should the position deteriorate still further, then Mr Carr’s alarming vision of prospective “white elephant” ports cannot be altogether ignored. Smaller ports in the past have played an important part in the economic life of the Dominion and it is beyond question that it would be economically sound and beneficial to permit them to fulfil their old-time function in the future transport organisation of the country. During the war, when the quick loading of overseas vessels was imperative, it became necessary to eliminate calls at various inter-, mediate ports, but it would be shortsighted policy to suppose that continuance of this centralised system would benefit New Zealand. Transport methods are unquestionably undergoing a change, but whatever the changes of the future there must always be a useful place in the national transport system for the secondary ports. Should the Government later decide to discourage the unhealthy trend towards centralisation of industry generally, then the maintenance of the intermediate ports will be essential. It seems improbable that the Government will be able to reach any other conclusion than this: that the decentralisation of industry is a social and economic necessity in New Zealand. Although the general prospect at present is not encouraging, there is evidence that the Government is concerned about the future of transport. The Minister of Transport has revealed that the Government intends to appoint a transport co-ordination council which will be charged with the duty of bringing sea, rail, road and air transport into harmony with each other so that dangerous cutthroat competition can be eliminated. Already, on the Minister’s admission, the railways are operating at an advantage over coastal shipping. Naturally, it is not desirable to halt progress, but in a country like New Zealand there should be room for all forms of transport, and if one is sacrificed at the expense of another the losses sustained must be borne in some form by the people. For this reason the whole question must be patiently studied now and each branch of the great transport industry should be assured of its just share of trade.