WILL OVERSEAS SHIPS LOAD IN WANGANUI ROADSTEAD IN FUTURE?

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 4

WILL OVERSEAS SHIPS LOAD IN WANGANUI ROADSTEAD IN FUTURE?

“An economic committee set up by the Government Is to undertake a survey of the minor Dominion ports to consider whether they should be used again” for loading of overseas ships, stated a letter from the Minister of Marine (Mr. Hackett) to the New Zealand Harbours’ Association, a copy of which was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board. Tin- letter stated that the Minister ol Marine had arranged with the Director of Stabilisation to carry out an economic survey in regard to the minor ports. He assured the association of the fullest support In arranging for its suggestion that the minor ports should again be used for overseas loading. The chairman (Mr. E, A. Millward) said that when he and the manag-ing-secretary were In Wellington since the last meeting they had been asked to wait on the Stabilisation Committee. The matter of the decentralisation of shipping had been discussed and the committee had asked if it were feasible to load in the Wanganui Roadstead again. The committee was told, said Mr. Millward, that if the overseas shipowners wanted to load in the Wanganui Roadstead again it would be a matter for the New Zealand Refrigerating Co. to supply the necessary lighters and loading gear at the freezing works at Imlay. The investigating committee would probably visit Wanganui, said Mr.’ Millward, and members of the board would then have an opporttunity of discussing the matter with them.