INLAND WATERWAYS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 3166, 24 January 1924, Page 6

INLAND WATERWAYS

THE NEGLECTED WAIKATO.

IMPORTANT MEETING. With the great network of inland waterways provided by the Waikatp and its tributaries giving inland towns direct communication to the sea, it seems a great reproach upon the district that'something more tangible than at present has not been done to make full use of the splendid natural advantages thus offered. With a view to paring the mattor on a more definite footing Mr. Geo. Parr, the local member on the Auckland Harbour Board, convened a meeting of representatives of the different Chambers of Commerce in the district in Hamilton last Thursday evening (says the Waikato Times) to set up a provisional board that would assume control of the Waikato and its tributaries. Need of a Board. In outlining the objects of the meeting Mr Parr said that on various oecfl' sions meetings had been hold with a View to taking some definite action in regard to electing some representative body to take complete control over the Waikato 'River from Port Waikato to Cambridge.- and even the present terminal port of Cambridge, but it was unsatisfactory to record nothing of a definite nature had yet been done. The Minister of Marino (Hon. Mr Anderson) recently asked the Raglan County Council to assume the control of Port Waikato as a part of its harbour policy. The opinion had more than once been freely expressed that a piecemeal control over this great waterway would prove disastrous, as some time or- other the various schemes would clash; the administration expenses would be greatly increased and in addition produce less efficiency. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in tne_ meeting was actuated i>y national motives. The river -was undoubtedly a splendid natural i transport route and destined in the near j future to be recognised as such both j from a commercial.standpoint and as a \ scenic asset which had already appealed to hundreds of visitors from oversens, as well as thousands of New Zeaianders. The one thing lacking, however, was a permanent governing body. •The time for had long .Since passed, was an opportune tim..t ( 'q>/m.jip..rputr a- practical progrcstve pojijejr dfj carrying, put improvements to the-Waikato and, Waipa Rivers so as to better enable the present

increasing traffic to be satisfactorily coped with. Trade with the South Island had already proved itself to be a feasible and profitable proposition and capable of tremendous expansion. Two cargoes from Lyttelton and Nelson had been delivered in splendid order at Port Waikato and distributed to the various consignees in Hamilton and Cambridge to their complete satisfaction. The steamer Progress was scheduled to leave Lyttelton for Port Waikato early in February with her third, cargo for our various river ports. The local shipping company was at present trebling its plant to cope with the ever-increasing trade. The important question of constructing the canal to connect the Manukau harbour with the Waikato River would be considered as early as possible. Probably 30,000 people would benefit by making the fullest use of out network of waterways. Linking up the Waikato River with the Hauraki Gulf was quite feasible from an engineering viewpoint, and the only problem .was the question of finance. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce* trusted that the meeting will appoint a provisional liver board to take the necessary steps with a view to electing a combined harbour and river board to take over the important duties of controlling the destinies of the Waikato River and its many deep water tribu- j larres. ; In conclusion Mr Parr said that sev- i oral years ago the Hons. Me Nab, Guthrie and Wilford, after personally inspecting the Waikato River, each and all prophesied a magnificent commercial future for our splendid river. Undivided Control. Mr A. G. Warburton, secretary of the Ngaruawahia Chamber of Commerce, said that the Inland Waterways Commission had advocated that legis-, lation be passed giving a commission full control of the Waikato River and tributaries. It. was futile, however, for a body of men to form themselves into a governing body. All they could do was to urge upon the Government, the necessity of forming a board. The board would have to be properly constituted and with full legal standing. The only way of working the. river to its fullest capacity was to govern it in its entirety by one influential body. Pr Martin, Mayor of Ngaruawahia, considered the only proper way of controlling the great inland waterway was to vest it. in a river board. If the merchants could be assured of a. regular service they would rise to the occasion and make full use of the inland waterways. ■'

Mr W. G. Adams, chairman of the Ngaruawahia Chamber of Commerce, also stressed the great need of developing the river. Discussion then ensued as to whether the old river board was defunct or not. It was remarked that the board could not got a quorum because there wove only three members alive. In any case the old board, which to all intents and purposes was dead, seemed to consider drainage operations its object rather than the development of the river. Experts or a Board?

In answer to Dr Martin, Mr Roose said that it would be bettor to appoint experts to inquire into the potentialities of the river than to have a board A. committee of two or three experts was far, less cumbersome than a board. The work of improving the navigability of the river, if properly done, would cost far less than most people thought. If they could only get a few hundred pounds a year they could do a great deal to the river.

Mr D. Hay was strongly of the opinion that one combined body should assume control of the river. He moved that a provisional board be formed first of all to ascertain exactly the present position or part, of it, and to bring about the constitution of .a properly legalised body to exercise proper and effective control of the river.

On the motion being put. to the meeting, it was declared carried. Mr A. M. Bisley thought that they should immediately approach the Government with a request that a board be formed, and he moved that at a meeting of representatives of Chambers of Commerce, the opinion was expressed that the control of the Waikato River, Waipa River, and Port Waikato. be vested in the one board duly elected by the ratepayers, instead of the present sectional control. This was carried unanimously.

A provisional committee, with power to add, was then set up as follows: — Messrs J. R, Fow, 0. H. Priestley. W. G: Adams, G. Parr. A. M. Bisley, H. H. Howdeii. A. E. Manning, D. Hay, C. Roose. E. T. Frost, and Dr Martin. Mr Ceo. Parr was appointed convener.