PORT COMMUNICATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16847, 29 May 1920, Page 10

PORT COMMUNICATION.

DISCUSSION BY CHAMBER OP COMMERCE.

i i The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, at its quarterly niuctiny last night, discussed briehy the .fort communication Question. Ttie presiaent, Air J. Ca. Jaeidman, in hiß quartcr.y adures3, said that members had buen supplied with a copy of the .Progress Leagues summaiy of the schemes for better commumca-.oii with the tea, tad an opportunity wouid be given at the meeting to discuss the matter, wliich was one of great importance. It was essential that something should be done iu tho near iuturo to cope with the increase of traffic to uud from the sea, and it was corlain.y the duty of the Chamber to see that something was clone, but ho did' not think it would be wise of the Chamber to pledge itself to any particular scheme for the purpose, as by doing so they would at once become a party oiganisation, and as a divided bouy would not be able to render the-same useful service as if they kopt a freo hand til- some echeme was definitely decided upon. Mr H. J. Ranger claimed that Lyttelton as a. ha.: bour compared favourably with tho best harbours in the world. It already had a, greater depth of water than London, New . York, Liverpool, Fremantle. and Sydney, j Improved communication was wanted, for I. at present the Port was inadequately catered for by a monopolistic railway concern— ! tho Government. The railway transport ! system was no better now than it was forty years ago. Congestion in yards and sheds 1 were produced, and frequently it took weeks jto get de.ivery of goods. A tunnel road l would meet the whole trouble. Experience 1 in America, Australia, and New Zealand, 1 showed that motor transport of goods could j bo carriod out cheaper than railway haulage. Electric haulage, available iu Cbrist- : church, would be cheaper styl. A five ton electric truck would cost 3sd,per ton mile to transport goods from Lyttelton to Christchurch. Mr H. Holland said there was Mr Riley's scheme to duplicate the tunnel .and rc- | r.rrange the lay out at Lyttelton and ChristI church. The cost of that would be borne by tho general Government. He could not fee how ror.d transport .would be cheaper than rail. .The present railway rate worked out at 4s 6d a ton, which included wharfage, but ho was afraid the road transport would cost- much more than that. Mr H. J. Mnrriner said the problem was not so much that of cost as of getting a speedier delivery of goods. During the ]a=t few weeks there had been prolonged delays in obtaining delivery. The Government having the monopoly had failed completely in keeping tho railway service up to date. Mr "W. J. Bottrcll said the railway rates worked out up to 7s a ton, and there was cartage, costing from 3s to 5s a ton in addition. It wcuTd pay the. merchants tc pay double wharfage rates and do their own transport if the rondwpv were provided. The President said tho Chamber of Commerce was fully alive to th? necessity for soma improvement, but he doubted whether it was advifabta at tho present time to support my particular scb?me, seeing that a conference was to be he'd next month to ; consider tho who'.o question.