[?]s Lively Argument

[?]Ons: To Spend

Not To Spend?

[?]s Lively Argument Over Wharves

va's battle of the wharves aues to rage unabated. The ng factions come from different ms of the business community, the Government, which is to do the job anyway, sits on ide-lines and watches. ! subject has been a source of rgument in the Chamber of bmmerce meetings since it was mooted. From time to time, tmental spokesmen added their ntually the Government made m decision that Suva would new wharves, and has not receptive to suggestions that lans be modified. It appears the Government considers it eached the point of no return, is proceeding with its plans the verbal war continues. ! Suvd Chamber of Commerce, e odd vote in 25, at its last ng, recommended to the Gov snt that the Suva plan be irarily shelved. ling the attack was Mr. H. E. managing director of Morris rom, Ltd., and he was sup l by Mr. P. Costello. recommendation also con -1 a suggestion that the Lautoka work be started first, and the Government investigate er Suva wharf could be main , in adequate condition for a of years.

SNELL contended that by uilding the wharf at Lautoka he tonnage handled by Suva be reduced. He also argued :he financial position of the 1 was such that it could not the expenditure of £4,750,000 ild the two wharves at the t time. said that the building of the y. and facilities for discharg ilk oil from an anchorage in rbour, could be started in the uture.

Costello said that the Colony’s s in the last three years ex exports by about £10,000,000. new plans were proceeded hey would cost an additional a week in interest. The ’ could not stand it.

W. G. Johnson, managing •r of w. R. Carpenter and 7 iji) Ltd., tried to bring a of reality to the discussion he said that members had our years to discuss the yet to-day they were still ? about it. said he was confident that

the wharf would be built, and added that money had to be borrowed for development.

Mr. D. A. Butler, manager of the Union Steam Ship Co., said British shipping lines had increased their services to Suva, and American and Italian lines were also sending their ships to Suva. He said he disagreed with comment that tonnage was de creasing.

THE Chamber’s conflicting views apparently have had one effect in the city. Other businessmen seem to be unanimous in opposition to expenditure on new wharves.

One waterfront man said that if tankers could be catered for, away from the main wharf, the extra

space which could become available would more than cater for berthing requirements for some years to come.

Mr. Costello stated in the debate by the Chamber of Commerce that the peak of imports had passed. He received a lot of support outside from people who claimed that the credit squeeze had stopped the com pletion of many buildings, with a resultant reduction in the importa tion of building requirements.

The “antis” say that when con struction of the new wharf at Lautoka is completed much of Northern District’s cargo will go through that port, and this will lead to less congestion in Suva.

Mr. A. A. Ragg (a former Deputy

sctor of Public Works) thinks if £500,000 were spent on the ent wharf it would serve Suva many years. lere are times when there is e congestion of shipping at i wharf, and the “antis” claim this could be avoided if there a separate berth for oil ships for vessels refuelling.

T whatever congestion there is, it is not to be compared with that of large overseas harbours, y days pass in Suva when there )t even a dinghy tied up. lamber of Commerce members itly inspected the plan of the wharves, and a shipping man ed that there was no more ling space provided there than 3 is now. ds brought from the secretary D. Aidney) the retort that 3 would be more efficient *ves. at is about where the matter is at present.

Mr. and Mrs. Garret Valentine, with their attendants, after their wedding at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Suva, on February 9. The groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W.

Valentine, of Browne Street, Suva, and the bride is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Croker, of Juju, Rotuma. The bridesmaid was Miss Nina Sorby, and the best man, Mr. Alan Roxburough, of Vatu koula. The couple will settle at Vatukoula, where Mr. Valentine is assistant-paymaster at Emperor Gold Mines.

The groom comes from a family well known in boxing circles in Fiji. His father was formerly lightweight champion of Fiji, and his uncle, Ben, who now lives in England, was middle and heavy weight champion of the Colony.