TO-DAY'S WEATHER FORECAST

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 4

TO-DAY'S WEATHER FORECAST

ALL OBSERVATIONS are taken at D a.m.

WIND KOncK indicated by letters: C, Calm, L.. Li;,iji; Hi., Lreeze; I>'.U., Fresh oreeze; M.U., moderate gale; U., Whole or heavy yaie; w., uaie 01 exceptional severiij. WEATUKH KSTIMATED 31ue •Uy, oe .ue atmo»pnrre clear or nes\'C, Clouds, passing clouds, U.. Drizzling rain; 1 , '., Foggy; <i., Ulooiuy, dark weatherH., Hail; I*. Lightning; 11., ilisty; 0.. Overcast, the whole sky covered with thick clouds: 1., i'assing -iiowers; y.. Squally; &., Uaiu, continued rain; T.. Thunder; b.. Snow: V.. L'gly. threatening appearance , Z... Hnzy: 11.F.. Heavy from.

FARMERS AND CITIZENS ! BEWARE !

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The Secretary of Marine has asked the opinion of the Board upon a request by the Wellington Harbour Board thnt the Government be asked to amend tile Harbours Act in such a manner as to employ, control, and manage all labour required in the loading and unloading of snips. I contend this Is a most subtle way to introduce to this port a shipowners' tax which ha.s been strenuously opposed by the consumers of this city for years. If this tax were allowed to be imposed, under any disguise- whatever, it would be most iniquitous to relieve wealthy shipowners residing in London of their undertaking, and pass It on to the public. Wellington is headquarters for most of our large shipping companies, and it has had in vogue for years this system which it now wants Auckland to adopt, and pass the shipping tax on to the consumer. Quite recently our Harbour Board imposed a harbour improvement tax of Od pnr ton on shipping. The snipping companies at once added this to their rate of freight; now they want lo evade the stevedore charges, and goodness knows what next. The chairman, who was returned us one of the members to represent shipping characterised the matter as a very important one, mid referred it to the Board in committee. Wliy such secrecy on such till important matter? At any ra"te 1 have every confidence tliut the chairman will protect tli,. ,-onsiimers' interests, which are oi more Importance than tliose of a few shipowners residing in London.—l am. etc.. V. VIItTUK. 24/3/18. Explanation re the present cheap system of receiving and delivery of cargo by Auckland Harbour Hoard. Please compare with what the Shipping federation wants:— No. I.—The ship receives 11 miscellaneous cargo, say, at London, under different marks, to be delivered at Auckland wharf, and charges Height for doing so. Ull arrival at Auckland it caunot leave the carso on wharf beiween ship and she>l. because the Hoard's By-laws and H.M. Customs will not allow it. which compels the ship Id put the cargo into Harbour Board sheds, stacked according to class of goods, under respective murks, at Its own cost; in addition to Uiis, it has to keep a lurge stair of tally clerks to give delivery of -goods, if any claims for non-delivery or pillage, the ship has to do the settling of claims or give an undertaking that it* agent or company will be responsible before it can get a clearance.

No. 2.—Under the present system the ship has to do this work, etc.. without any cost to the consignee, but It Is obvious the Shipping Federation Is now making an effort to put it on to the consignee, and which is passed on to the community.

No. B.—The Shipping federation may say its bills ot lailiug stipulate delivery from slilp s slings, but it ha.s never been able to euiorce it. oecause if it were tried it ivoultl take about three months to deliver an ordinary cargo lrom London. The H.M. Customs woudu't allow it, us all cargo has to be landed Into sheds for examination and to collect Customs duties; neither could itie Harbour I'.uurd permit, lor want i»r wharf accommodation, auu last, but not least, the lierthage dues ami lime would nearly absorb the freight, if not more. This the Shipping Federation is tully aware of. hence its reason for not enforcing delivery from snips slings.

Xo. 4.—Farmers and citizens nre not awn;o what nu iniquitous receiving tax i.f on« shilling nud si.\p,.iice per ton woulU lie i.v lou-pu. cd yoou., in uuiuv am! heavy toliuafc-t-, such «a manures, sail, feui-iug wire, kerosene, bcuzlue, fruit. Umber, cement, L-rtcks. lime, ehatt, potatoes, lv fact, produce of all kinds, uuii coal, without meutioniii}; wool, mutton, butter, etc., uutl flux, as tlie same charges would lie made for shipping goods. Farmers lv the W'ulkato and Northern parts may ttiink tin- proposed chaise wouldn't nflect the price of coal from local mines. Most certainly it would, as the price would be increased to correspond with the selling price of the Imported article, as tiie coul vendors never miss an opportunity. The farmers were delighted wiiii a reduction ol sixpence per ton on manure wharfages, aud it was proudly stated that this concession ■•would cause barren laud to blossuui like the rose." If sixpence per ton is going to work such wonders, what would au extra charge of one shilling anil sixpence per tou do.' It is obvious it woud cause desolation, simply to eurich the Shipping federation aud relieve it of Its legitimate undertaking. Are you going to allow It J

No. 5. —The Wellington Harbour Hoard many yeais ago was controlled by shipping companies, and adopted " » Iniquitous receiving and delivery t' wiikuh our Snipping Federation is aux.; u to force upon this community. In Wellington the receiving and delivery charge is collected rrom any wharf or lauding place under the control o£ Ihe bevcral attempts have been made by Wellington consignees to adopt the Auckland system, which has been stated by a manager of one of our largest shipping companies to be the cheapest "and most expeditious in the Dominion lor the consignee, and consequently the public. About six years ago the Wellington Harbour Hoard increased its rates. What forV i'robably due to its costly system, as it is a well-known fact that there are nearly as many brass-bound officials about its sheds and wharves as there are workmen. To support my asesrtion, the Wellington charges on a .{.OOO ton steamer are »•'«>!. 17/0; on the same tonnage, Auckland ilol 17/0. Are you anxious to emulate Wellington V My desire has always been to make Auckland as near a free port as possible, but evidently it is not so with the shipping Federation.

Station. Ther. Wind. Wea- Baro- In tlutr. meter- Shad* Cape Maria Sfli n Russell »fl) o Hoklanga IleaCs. SSWflj () Manukau Heads. SEfb c Auckland SWtb (I TCast Cape SKfli o Gisborne, SKfl> () Taupo Sms o Nopler Sfli R Wanganul El uc New riyraouth... SKfb (J Cape Farewell... SI b Cape l'alilser SWfb <' Welliuaton SKI DCCape Camiibell... SE1 i: Cape Fouhvind.. SKI Ii ChiistcliurcU .. NE1 I; Uuiiedlu Calm b<: Bluff YV.WV1 Ui , 2>).T!1 2!).71 29.71 20.74 ■Ji). 71 L'O.Tl -'!>.«-> 211.01 a).!K ■ i-.).:).-, liU.UH 57 50 ."ii; en ■M r,:i .-.:! r.i M 44 44