The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7180, 6 April 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1887.

The discussion of the port charges by the Chamber of Commerce cannot but have a good effect. With one exception all the speakers addressed themselves to the question presented for consideration in a reasonable and temperate manner. That the charges are regarded as unreasonably high by those who have to pay them is too patent a fact to be denied. A grievance therefore exists; and it is one for which, inasmuch as it is proving to be detrimental to the port, a remedy will hare to be found. It is not answered by quoting the expensive character of the Works undertaken by the Harbor Board. So far as the discussion went two distinct results are apparent. The meeting was told by Mr Reid that our merchants are getting their goods 6s 2d cheaper than those in Christchurch; and this, he affirms, is due to the efforts of the Harbor Board. The other result seems to be that the large steamers are being driven from our port, and even on sailing vessels the charges are so excessive as to give the port a bad name. The question then is whether the advantages gained compensate for the advantages lost. The Chairman's speech was excellently practical and impartial. Ho disclosed fairly both aspects of the question, and quoted figures which are most convincing ; but wc are not quite disposed to accept his proposal for remedying the grievance complained qf. ft is an easy thing to say " Take the business into your own hands," but not «o easy to find the means of doing it. If it be a fact that the owners of the direct steamers have adopted as a fixed policy for the future the sending of their vessels to Wellington, and distributing cargo and passengers thence, the lowering of the harbor rates will have no effect so far as they are concerned. But if, as' is alleged, these rates are complained of, not without cause, by the ordinary ship-frequenters of our port, then tjierc is a danger of our trade and commerce suffering material injury, to an extent for which the 6s 2d per ton saved by importers will not compensate us. Neither will it pay tho Harbor Board to divert traffic into other channels. There io much justice and sense in the remark of Mr that, "so " far as harbor improvements are concerned, "whatever charge there is should be borne "by the trade." Everyone knows that all charges, whether they aro levied in the shapi of harbor dues or railway rates or import duties, are ultimately borne, not by the merchant nor by the trader, but by tho consumer. Therefore it is bad policy, as Mr Cakgiix eaid, "to make the ships pav; it should be on the goods. j?erhaps the end arrived at was the most judicious in view of the conflicting interests at stake. But nothing has been lost, and we hope something will be gained, by the ventilation of the question. We shall await the report of the Committee with the f»JI expectation that something valuable will bfl proposed. Otago cannot afford to have her port disparaged. Hostile critics there are in every direction, and some even within her own borders. Under any circumstances, the alleged grievance of the direct steamers should be abated, so that it may plainly be understood whether it is real, o» merely, as was alleged at the meeting, an excuse to avoid calling at the port. In the latter case, perhaps, the Legislature may be able to find a remedy by imposing reasonable conditions on the grant of subsidies, which are certainly not given for the special benefit of any particular port, although the loose wording of the contract seems to leave it open to the contracting company to call at either of the four ports named. It is strange, indeed, if the port which, as Mr Djjnniston showed, is doing the largest business of any in New Zealand, is not worth calling at by these vessels. If such be really the case, the true explanation of the position has not yet been made manifest; and it is desirable that it should bo.