PROSPECTS^BRIGHTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 299, 19 December 1933, Page 6

PROSPECTS^ BRIGHTER

HARBOUR CHAIRMAN’S VIEW f ROOM FOR OPTIMISM A HARD YEAR ENDING. ‘ Prospects are much brighter than they were this time 12 mouths ago, aud we have every reason to be optimistic,” said the •chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board yesterdav (Air W. Alorrison), in extending to members, the staff, all employees and the Press, the compliments of the season. He agreed that the actual position •could be better, particularly as regards the dairy farmer, out prospects lor wool were very good, and meat also was much better. He had a copy of a cable in his pocket fruiu a prominent banker in the Old Country n hich said that the wool position was very sound. The peak prices for line wools would help the coarser grades, and, as a matter of fact, tho outlook for coarse wool was better than for any. He understood that for each penny a pound made on wool au extra million of money was brought into New Zealand. On last year’s tables wool was up anything from 100 to 150 per cent. Meat was up rfO per cent. We will get back to prosperity,” Air Alorrison added, “when the 70,000 unemployed are back in their usual occupations. We all realise that, thousands of those men are on relief work through no fault of their own. With the prospects brightening we have every reason to feel optimistic, and I hope that by this time next year we will be congratulating ourselves. I hope that with the completion of the contract for improving the moles we will have a permanent depth of water of 25 to 26 feet at the en--1 rance to the port. When that comes about we will |)° able to say that our work has not been in vain.” Air W. J. Bogers, on behalf of the members of the board, reciprocated the chairman 3 good wishes and paid a tribute to Air Morrison’s fairness in conducting the meetings. Air W. J. Gardner (managing-secre-tary), replying on behalf of the staff, said that the year had been a trying one for the board. Forces against the harbour, seen and unseen, had been very active, largely owing to the economic conditions ruling. The staff had, all worked loyally and if one did not have a good crowd to work with the results could never be what they ought to be.