HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES.

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, —The action of the Port Chalmers Borough Council ’in drawing attention to the disabilities under which that section of the port is now labouring as the result of the altered charges levied on shipping is to be strongly commended. The trend of all modern harbour authorities is to reduce charges to the minimum, and thereoy encourage shipping to make use of their port. A perusal of the new charges, however, presents the idea that a most studied effort has been made to extract every possible penny from the shipping companies without in any way rendering any additional service. The taking over of the Lower Harbour wharves at Avhat can only bo termed a gift price should hhve enabled the board cither to reduce charges at Dunedin, or at least to maintain the fees at their old figure. Giving evidence before the Town Planning Board some few months ago, the late chairman of the board made reference to the fact that the Harbour Board desired all the revenue it could obtain, and would, in effect, obtain the highest possible fees it could. His remarks raised somewhat of a laugh, and it was quite evident that he felt uncomfortable in having given voice to more than he intended to say. The scale of charges adopted clearly indicates what was in the chairman’s mind on that occasion. The only, ships which appear to bo favoured are those carrying phosphates, mostly foreign bottoms, of which about six at the outside visit the Port during the course of a year. Turning to the vessels which may be described as tho carriers of our life blood—namely, the produce ships, wo find that for a five-day stay of a vessel of 8,000 tons (the Port boats and others) the additional impost is £l2O, roughly. Further, possibly owing to tho relatively small amount of cargo handled at this port, tho charges are now loAued on the net tonnage of the steamer, not on tho tonnage of cargo handled. Even spaces of the ship not normally included in tho net tonnage are being charged for under tho new rates. Finally, not considering this sufficient, an extra impost is placed on any deck cargo carried. To all this there can only be ono end—namely, that the shipping companies will largely avoid Duneum, and only send vessels to the Port, when a large cargo is available, which will leave some profit after meeting tho heavy local charges, or, on the other hand, importers will find themselves at a disadvantage with other ports. Incidentally, it might be pointed out that while exports from Dunedin last year decreased, roughly, £2OO,IKK), those from Bluff increased by over £300,000.-1 am, etc., Boreas. September 17.