ONEHUNGA HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 260, 1 November 1909, Page 3

ONEHUNGA HARBOUR.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I wish to bring before your notice a proposition now advertised in thje daily papers, viz., the Auckland Harbour Board's application for control of the Onehunga Harbour. If this is allowed to become law, it would be a most indiscreet act on the part of the general public and also against the interest of the town of Onehunga and the people connected therewith, and those who use the harbour, for the following reasons: Should the Harbour Board take over the control they would immediately increase the wharfage rates to the same as now levied in Auckland harbour. This would mean a 'tax of at least 1/3 per ton extra on an average on all goods coming into

on an average ou all goods coming into and going from Onehunga harbour; as at present the railway freight includes all charges. And this mode of delivery is the cheapest way of goods being distributed all over the provincial district of Auckland, which is connected by rail, as produce, coal, merchandise, and other goods are loaded into trucks and distributed throughout at a low direct rate. Auckland Harbour Board charge 1/3 per ton wharfage on coal, and no service for it, whereas railage to Auckland from Onehunga on coal is 2/6, and if under the A.H.B.'s control would be about 4/ (from Westport and Greymouth, thus penalising Onehunga traffic, which includes wharfage, and as the freight to Onehunga is 1/0 less than to Auckland, it allows the railway to make a. profit on "the carriage, and gives Onehunga town a prominence which would be lost to them if the A.H.B. took it over, as the extra charge for wih&rfage levied by them would divert the trade to Auckland; and therefore th» public would have to pay more for any goods that should be landed there. It is to the interest of all true Aucklanders to try and help Onehunga to become a shipping port by means of low charges, as the Auckland merchants have to compete with Wellington, which has no railage to pay to get goods sent to steamer for shipment to West Coast ports. Auckland is thus handicapped by railway freight, but it is now proposed to add on a wharfage charge should the Onehunga port be under A.H.B.'s control, which will prove to be about 1/8 per ton above present cost. lam sorry that DO' one seems to look ahead on behalf of the public, and point out the serious position to them, and also tShe tendency that is being shown to still knock out poor old Onehunga's shipping trade, which should be encouraged, as it is the cheapest way for farmers and country] traders to get their goods front the South, and should also be cheapest sending to the South. I hope that abler pens than mine will prove what I say is correct; and they must he up and doing, or the Onehunga people -will rue the day they allowed the Auckland Harbour Board to take over Onehunga Harbour control.—, I sum, etc, \ AUCKLAND MERCHANT, j