Port Christchurch.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19201, 15 October 1930, Page 6

Port Christchurch.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir, —1 read with some amusement a criticism over the nom de plume “Quaero,” of Mr E. J. Howard's article re the Old Pioneers, bearing on the above question. I am sure “ Quaero ” has been either misinformed or has not followed the matter up very closely. He refers to the old pioneers not deciding upon the Estuary as a suitable position for a port. Why? Because in those da3*s they had not the mechanical devices such as dredges and other means, which are in everyday use now, to say nothing of electricity. They never dreamt of the size of ship we have to handle to-day, equipped with modem appliances for discharging and loading cargo. t I would also remind “ Quaero ’’ that the decision to bore the Lyttelton tunnel was only forced through the Provincial Council by Superintendent Moorhouse after several attempts, and then only on his own casting vote.

“ Quaero ” warns us not to attempt to build a port that will not cater for large vessels. He must not alarm himself unnecessarily, for if he had .followed the matter up in an intelligent manner he would know—firstly, that some of the greatest experts of the present day have stated that a first-class port can be built on the Estuary, and secondly, on behalf of those advocating Port Christchurch I think I can assure him that it is only a first-class port, capable of handling any ship which comes to New Zealand or is likely to come to New Zealand, that will be built on the Estuary. It is for the very reason that Lyttelton is out of date, too cramped for space and not capable of expansion to enable it to cope with modem transport, that a new port is required to enable Christchurch and Canterbury to hold its own. I would again advise “ Quaero ” to study the matter a little deeper and get the idea of a small port out of his head.—l am, etc.. ADVANCE