WESTPORT HARBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 142, 19 June 1922, Page 2

WESTPORT HARBOUR

ALLEGATIONS RESENTED. / (BI TCLEOKAPH.—rr.BSS ASSOUVIIOV.) WESTPORT, 17th June. The message fvoin Greymouth last Friday suggesting that Westport harbour was not paying its way, and also that harbour duties should be plaoed y on coal in order to bring theso duties in line with those of Greymouth, is reseated in Westport as boing both inaccurate and uncalled for. It is pointed out that WestporlVraihvay and wharf are the best paying in the Dominion. Mr H. R, Young,. A.M.1.C.E., Director of Associated Collieries, in a letter to the press says there is an output charge at Westport of 3d per ton. Each port., ho says,, should rate on its merits, and there is no reason why the harbour rate at a few ports should be the same, especially as ho understands sea freights are the same from. We«tport as from Greymouth to the principal -ports.^^peaking for fcho co-operative mince, ho says they already pay a fair proportion per ton to harbour works and the State —no less than an _ average of live shillings per ton ( freight and harbour charges from tho nunos to ths steamer. But, says Ml. Young, tho most interesting information is given in the comparative freight costs between Greymouth by rail, via Otha and i Christchureh, and by sea to Lyttelton and Christchureh. When ths tunnel is completed it will cost only 12s to 16s per ton to send coaj by rail "from the Grey district to Christchurch, against the present vate of 23s to 26s per ton by sea and rail, and that.will surely give the Grey coal-" owners a glorious advantage over us in capturing tho bituminous coal trade of the southern pai't of' New Zealand, an advantage, it would seem, of at least five shillings per ton when the tunnel is finished. It would no doubt surprise our Greymouth fn«m!s, then, if Westport agitated for increasing, iho railway rates via Otirain 'order that- wa might .make good in Ohriitchurch with over fca borne coal.