Page 113 - Bulletin 8 2004

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The Wynberg Times: 20 July, 1907.

THE HARBOUR SCHEME

A deputation from the Ratepayers’ Association waited upon the Council in
connection with the proposed fishing harbour at Kalk Bay.
Mr. Badman introduced the deputation. He said that with regard to this question, it
appeared that a petition signed by various fishermen had been presented to the House of
Assembly against the harbour. It had been almost an unknown petition, and many people
had been surprised at its presentation. They had reason to believe that several of the
signatures were obtained in ignorance. They had been told that several of those men had
signed not knowing what they were signing. The Ratepayers’ Association had therefore
decided to approach the Council and see what could be done in connection with the matter.
It was not a question only concerning Muizenberg and Kalk Bay – it was a matter for the
whole of South Africa. In a country where meat was not cheap they should make an
endeavour to improve the fishing industry. He thought that it was necessary that they
should get up a counter-petition and present it to the House. He did not see why such views
should be represented by a few fishermen when there was a great many other people to be
considered. There were a great many others who had something at stake as well as the
fishermen, and if the building of a harbour was going to be stopped by a few of these men it
was time that others took some action.
Cr. Auret said that about 20 of the men came to his house and asked him to get up a
petition against the harbour.
The Mayor: What was their reason?
Cr. Auret said the men stated that they would be unable to compete with the bigger
vessels which would come to the port. He (Cr. Auret) told them he would have nothing to
do with them. He said he was in favour of the harbour. He did not know who got up the
petition; he had had nothing to do with it himself. He proceeded to refer to the visit of Mr.
Hannon, and said that at that time the men were discontented at something or other.

The Mayor said it seemed incredible to hear of such a thing being done. They had
done all they possibly could for the poor fishermen, and the Council had gone out of its
way to help them, and had urged that something should be done to benefit the industry and
make the place more wholesome. In one interview with Mr Fuller he was told that the
fishermen were simply impossible and that it was not worth doing anything for them. They
were a discontented, grumbling race of men from the beginning to the end. When they
could not get anyone to quarrel with they quarrelled amongst themselves. It was the duty of
the inhabitants of the place to take up this matter and see that they made the place fit to live
in, and that the industry was carried on in a way that would be beneficial to the resort and
the public. For many years past this important question had been brought before the
Government. The situation at Kalk Bay was of the best, the prevailing winds drove the
boats home, and the only thing that was wanted was a haven where the cargoes could be
handled properly. There was no place worse adapted at present than Kalk Bay, for the class