Wants Charges Sooner

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 3

Wants Charges Sooner

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. The Wellington Harbour Board is objecting to the delay in the introduction of lower wharf - handling charges. The delay, till January 1, was agreed to by the New Zealand European Shipping Association at the request of the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Overseas Shipping, the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand). The delay was to enable consideration to be given to representations by the Auck-

land Harbour Board and Chamber of Commerce, said Mr Shand.

Now the Wellington Harbour Board’s chairman, Mr E. R. Toop, wants the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) to receive a deputation from the board, the Chamber of Commerce, and other interested parties pressing for the new charges not to be delayed. Mr Toop said today he was “very pleased that, at long last, reasonable proposals are made by the shipping companies to adjust the wharfhandling charges on an equitable basis. “I am concerned, however, that after three years of investigation, there is to be a

further delay until January 1.” The question of a flat rate of freight had held the attention of the Wellington Harbour Board from 1928, and only now did a breakthrough seem likely, said Mr Toop. When it was announced more than two years ago that Auckland, Whangarei and Opua were to pay port charges,. Mr Toop said that it was a “step in the right direction” by shipowners to correct the anomalous position affecting the users of the port of Wellington, who have to pay twice for the same service enjoyed by the northern ports.