THE MINOR PORTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 9

THE MINOR PORTS

AND OVERSEA STEAMERS By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Nelson, March 24. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night reference was made to differences in harbour charges and the efforts made _by tin. Wellington Harbour Board to concentrate the trade in Wellington by inducing overseas steamers to call only at the four centres.

Mr. A. A. Lucas said lie had been asked to bring up certain comparisons in the charges between Nelson and Wellington, and moved that they be referred to the Council of the Chamber for investigation. The chairman (M. A. Gouldj said his experience on the board wa» th.it all such matters were given full consideration, and it was only right that grievances should be inquired into. Mr. H. R. Duncan (chairman of the Harbour Board) said that the Nelson board had no valuable endowments. Wellington had endowments of a value of £493,000, and the policy of the Wellington board was to get the Home boats to use that port. . Its argument was that the charges on goods landed at Wellington were increased by the expenses incurred in sending the Home boats to the smaller ports. Mi. E. Thompson said that Wellington was tlie cheapest port m every line and was doing its utmost to do away with tlie out ports. Nelson had been cut off the direct passengers lists, and this was just the thin edge of the wedge to cuv off the local ports. The motion was carried.