TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19765, 21 December 1935, Page 6

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Speaking at Gisborne the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, said that when the East Coast railway was completed the Government would expect loyal patronage from the people and would not have cut-throat competition. That may be all right, but there are other interests and they must be considered. About halfway between Gisborne and Napier is the coastal port of Waikokopu, developed to meet the needs of the Wairoa district, and, if we remember aright, with public money. Is that to be lost, and the wharf left to fall into decay? Then the people of Poverty Bay have made persistent efforts to construct a harbour. The loan money totals over £1,200,000 although sinking funds have reduced the indebtedness to about £950,000. The annual charges amount to £53,964, and the greater part of this large sum is obtained by means of rates in the harbour board district. The provision of railway communication would not affect the overseas trade., which constitutes the greater part of the business of the port, but the coastal shipping is fairly heavy and handled over 100,000 tons of freight last year. The effect of railway competition on the finances of the harbour board will of course be marked and it is not easy to see why, if tho line is warranted, there should he any special or implied undertaking on the part of the people to transfer their business to the Railway Department. These are among the many factors that must ho considered before the re-comnnktce-ment of the work is authorised. Two ports will he affected and any estimate of the freight likely to pass over the railway should take into account the volume that may still be handled by shipping.