CITY DISABILITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 9

CITY DISABILITIES.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —Mr Howard’s remarks in the “ Star ” of Saturday, December 1, are interesting, though somewhat reminiscent of Blackwood’s “ Musing Without Method,” which readers of that journal will remember. But unquestionably his topic will excite attention.

The transport from ship to warehouse is and always will be a sore point with this community so long as the proceeds thereof are sent up to Wellington for the benefit of New Zealand in general. New Zealand in general gets next to nothing from the other three large cities from this source as they are able to retain it for themselves. The annual amount in our case one can only guess at, as several hundred thousand pounds, as the Government has never given us the exact information. No wonder the Christchurch population contains a large section that is always more or less fidgety under a feeling only partly understood, that something is wrong somewhere and it robs the community of the buoyancy which exists where such handicaps are absent. Mr Howard does not seem inclined to make any suggestions, so apparently has none to offer, hence my reference to the writer in “ Blackwood’s.” 1 feel perfectly certain, however, that if Mr Howard or any other prominent Christchurch citizen of known ability could only realise and envisage for himself the probable results that would follow the opening up of the estuary to maritime trade he would never rest till he had thought out a scheme for its practical realisation. It’s not easy, because the present maritime business of this city is in the hands of a mixed team of city and country members. I think the prevalent idea here is that the country members fear a rate—they cannot have any other fear. It could make no possible difference to a country exporter using the railways whether his commodity is put on board ship this side of the hills or the other. All he can fear therefore is a rate. Well, the popular belief is that the earning power of our North Canterbury shipping is sufficient to pay, if necessary, a comparatively large sum annually in interest on any undertaking costing a reasonable amount relative to our population and wealth. If this is not correct will somebody please say so. I will further advance the opinion that the adhesion of the Lyttelton Harbour Board and its complete identification with its immediately surrounding district would revolutionise the whole position. The Lyttelton Harbour Board are running a sound concern and have investments in divers places outside Canterbury. Could not a certain urban district be proclaimed, relieving the country altogether from any responsibility regarding the maritime trade of Christchurch, and lifting the bugbear of rates forever from their calculations? We could then begin to take an interest in our own property. If we have two ports instead of one what then ? It cannot be helped. Melbourne has four shipping centres separated by miles. The hills are here and we cannot remove them. We do what we can with the materials to hand. If we start another harbour on a sufficiently modest scale the board presumably could finance it in its early stages. If it is a success it will ultimately finance itself. In my opinion the starting of this work, that is, the erection of protective moles and the dredging of a navigable channel —would revive this citv and hearten its people to such an extent that trade would at once take on a new lease. The matter with Christchurch to a great extent is that our affairs are not in our own hands. Years ago, when the community was young and everything was at the beginning, it was inevitable that the whole countryside had to make itself liable to meet any deficiency that might arise from borrowed money for harbour works. But that day has now passed. The maritime business of the city has made good, and it served the purpose of the past days of smaller thines. But now the population is much larger and more work has to be found, and we find ourselves under a severe disadvantage. To attract more manufactures here to give the added work required, Christchurch itself must be made a port. The scope of the work could be left to discussion. The burden of original debt for which the country, as well as the town, is still liable, will have to be lifted from the former. It has never cost anyone a penny so far, and is not likely to, but even the shadow must be removed. We will then start on a new basis.—l am, etc., A.M.