PORT OF AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1937, Page 4

PORT OF AUCKLAND

INVESTIGATION ■< ORCHARGES

The desirability, of investigating the. incidence of harbour charges in Auck-: land was stressed, by several members.: of the Auckland Harbour xßoard at the annual •-rii^eting-Jj on;;Tuesday^ ~,*r i n' commenting :oii the!':annual:'report^'of the chairman ! (Mr. iC- G.''Macindoe) (states the "New Zealand: Herald").

"The question of'{'harbour 'charges must be considered* seriously during the coming year," said Mr. E. J. Phelan. "There should be a.comparison with the charges made by other harbour boards and inquiries made with a view to the reconsideration of our own harbour • charges. If overcharging ~ is-driving trade from the port of Auckland it is our job to see that such a state of .affairs is promptly remedied."' ''■ " .-"5. ~ ''

Mr. A. ■ Sutherland said a dowering of the existing charges' would be of considerable benefit to primary producers, who.were experiencing great difficulty at present as a result of the general rise in costs.

"If would be a wonderful thing for us as a harbour board, to have a free port," said Mr. Harvey. Turner. "As a .matter of. fact, I ■think Auckland is <the' cheapest port in' New Zealand at present,-but the lower the charges the greater will be the volume of trade to the port." .:

The chairman said he was quite prepared to bring down a • comparative return showing port charges in the Dominion. .Although the. last financial year had.; ended, satisfactorily, there were still difficulties to be faced in the shape of changing labour conditions, shorter hours, and higher wages. "In this -and-'in other ports in the Dominion,"1 Mr.'- Macindoe xontinued, "waterside work, is performed' at. an absolute minimum. It is a question which" win-have'to- be faced 'lip 7 to brfore'lohg as it constitutes'a serious charge onfall the primary, products of the country. Ships handling cargo with their own gear can perform twice the amount of work that watersiders can do with all the 'magnificent .and expensive equipment of the port."