HARBOUR BOARD'S OPPORTUN-

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16775, 16 October 1916, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD'S OPPORTUN-

To the Editor. Sir, —It is announced that the Timaru Harbour Board's operations have been so successful that it is now proproposed to lay up their dredge. Herein lies an, opportunity for our Jocn Harbuir .Board which should immediately get into touch with the Tim.-iru -board as to hiring tiieir machine. This disposes of the engineer s contention that no suitable* dredge is available. The Jack of progress or our port improvements, more especially vi regard to the "Big Scheme,' is a b-word in Dominion shipping circles, and tlio present state of the ffloating' basin' nas mor« tlian once oeen commented upon in anything but favourable tarms. until the necessary d red gins is doae J ■'->^-ni-s tint tl.e wliolo works '» ist o» iiexa up—the>-c is ample euaen c that tiiii id so. The Board's own aew ar-auge *& not likely to be.available ■tor a long time to come—the builders are evidently engaged upon more profitable work. As this is the case an "offensive" must bn commenced at once aagmst the Harbour Board's policy of han«-back. Recent happenings have not been such as to inspire shipping to visit our port, and notwithstanding the recent enquiry the part's name has a.nasty smudge upon It which can only be erased, by an immediate decision to push forward with work which will make the port a thoroughly sat« one. Tiaiaru's achievement it a splendid one. and compared with this our local attempts to construct a harbo lr are an.using. A iine plan has bc-^a drawn of a possible water-front at Castlecliff. but this up to the.present is about nil which can be shown to the public. The Board docs not appear able to cast off the shackles which bind it to the idea that Wnnganui.is ''it" with capitals. The members cannot imagine anything greater than their present operations—but .hat is an old tale! Anyhow this is but the start of a determination to once again force the Board. Tc has been done before and it will be done again. The Board ias an opportunity of obtaining . dredge, and it must do .something or take tiio consequences of its tired policy. Yours, etc.. RATEPAYER. P.O.—lt would be interesting '« know how much the Board has " saved" on its contract with the builders of the dredge, who, 1 believe, tender?-i slightly lower thnn a fir Tn Avh-ch has delivered several splendid machines ;n New Zealand waters during past yea-s.