WHARF SHED ACCOMMODATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12463, 14 May 1908, Page 4

WHARF SHED ACCOMMODATION.

The refusal of the Minister of Railways to accede to the urgent demand of the Chamber of Commerce and merchants of Wanganui for an extension of the wharf shed accommodation by another 200 feet will be received with the utmost dissatisfaction here. Mr. Hall Jones has entirely failed to rise to the occasion, and it is difficult to understand why he has taken up such a position. It hae been pointed out to him that the inward shipping trade of Timaru, which port he himself quoted to support his contention that 100 feet extension would be sufficient for Wanganui's requirements, is not nearly so large as the inwara trade of this port, and yet Timaru's wharf shed accommodation is much greater tnan Wanganui'e, even with the addition of 100 feet. It has also been explained to Mr Hall Jones that the trade of the port is increasing rapidly, and wiH continue to increase in the future at a much greater rate than in the past, particularly when the Harbour improvements, which Mr ' Hall Jones has so frequently advised should be taken in hand here, are completed. As for the Minister's prognostications concerning the completion of the Jaain Trunk Railway interfering with the trade of this port, we are not greatly alarmed. With an "improved port we confidently expect Wanganui to take a good share of the trade of the Trunk line, not to speak of the benefits that must accrue to this port irom the opening up of the large areas of land in the Ohoto and other blocks between the river and the Main Trunk and the etill larger areas between the Waitotara and Wanganui rivers. Mr Hall Jones is evidently unaware of the large amount of settement progressing inland, and must surely have forgotten that the Government some time ago purchased from the natives many thousands of acres on the right bank of the Wanganui River, the trade from nearly all of which will be with the port of Wanganui. In the circumstances, therefore, the Minister's idea that 100 feet extension of the wharf shed will be amply sufficient to meet all the requirements of the business for many years to come appears to us to be very short-sighted indeed, and one that should not be accepted by the people of Wanganui. Further strong representations should be made, nor should any slackening of efforts be allowed until the request is granted. \