DEEP-SEA HARBOUR FOR WEST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18726, 4 April 1929, Page 5

DEEP-SEA HARBOUR FOR WEST COAST.

GREYMOUTH BOARD TO SECURE A REPORT. (Special to the “ Star.”) GREYMOUTH, April 3. Considerable discussion took place at last evening’s fineeting of the Gre\'mouth Harbour Board, on a put forward by Mr J. Ryall that during his absence abroad the chairman (Mr P. J. M’Lean) take the opportunity of obtaining a comprehensive report on either the provision of a deep-sea harbour for Greymouth or permanent alterations to the present harbour.

Mr G. A. Perr\- said that the board would not be justified in any sense in such an action. The\* .had alread>spent over £2OOO in obtaining reports and advice on the present scheme. Mr M’Lean expressed the opinion tha't the time had arrived for a more comprehensive scheme of harbour extension. The present scheme was well in hand. The Auckland Board had made its plans for thirty' 3-ears ahead! He thought that on his travels he might see conditions similar to Grev--mouth Harbour, and he would be able to ascertain what had been done to overcome the difficulties. He could be trusted to secure his report from reliable sources. New Zealand had its expert engineers, but Mr Furkert, the present Marine Department engineer, was not a marine engineer. The crux of the Coast's future development rested with the harbour. Information should be available on which to prepare the board’s future polic\-.

Mr D. Tennent said that it was necessary to go on with the present scheme w r hich, if carried Out, as was being done at present, would need no further elaboration. To consult engineers in England on a scheme that was half done was not a fair thing, nor would it be reasonable to ask the Marine Department to authorise an other scheme in the middle of the present one. Mr G. E. Perkins spoke in support of the idea. The board, he said, need not go to any great.expense in obtaining a report. When the present scheme was thought of, no one had had any idea of the great advance the Coast was to make. The Otira tunnel’s freight-canwing capacity had almost reached its limits, and any further increase in exports must be through the port. Mr W. Clayton said that the board should take advantage of its chairman’s offer. There was nothing very succesvsful about the present scheme. Mr Tennent moved as an amendment that the obtaining of the report should stand over until the lagoon*is dredged. Mr Clayton: I think that we can trust the chairman not to make a fool of himself. Mr Tennent: I am not afraid of the chairman making a fool of himself, but of his making a fool of David Tennent and of the rest of the board. After further discussion it was decided to delete from the original motion the word “comprehensive,” and to limit the amount to be spent on obtaining the report to £IOO. Mr Ryall formally put the motion. It was seconded pro forma by Mr Perr3' and carried on a show of hands, Messrs Tennent and Perrv* being against it.