TRANSHIPMENT OF CARGOES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18347, 2 April 1925, Page 11

TRANSHIPMENT OF CARGOES.

HAEBOUR BOARD TO ENQUIRE. The alleged evils attendant upon the transhipment of goods' for the South Island at North Island porta was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Harbour Board. Dr. Thacker asked the secretary if he could supply the figures in connexion with the transhipment of goods to Lyttelton from other ports, especially Wellington and Auckland. It was. time tlie'y took a definite Btand, and requested the shipping companies to see. that their overseas vessels made more calls at Lyttelton. As things were at present, Canterbury people were paying double and sometimes treble- wharfage and port dues. Mr Cyrus Williams said that both Auckland and Wellington only charged half dues on cargo for transhipment. Dr. Thacker* It means extra cost to our people. It is the same all : over the South Island. Mr H. Holland said it was very unjust that although the South Island paid its share of the £45,000 mail subsidy on the San Francisco and Vancouver service, all cargo had to be transhipped. He knew of instances where Auckland merchants had railed goods down from the north, and had them on the Christchurch market a week or so before the local merchants received- their consignments, thus beating the Christchiirch merchants.

Dr. Thacker said that practically tho whole of the imported fruit was transhipped to Lyttelton, and arrived . a week or two after the Auckland people received theirs. The secretary promised to furnish tho report.