CORRESPONDENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1451, 27 March 1911, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

n\ ELLINGTON, HARBOUR BOARD ELECTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE STAB. Sir, —Your reference to this matter in Saturday's issue of your valuable paper, would lead one to think, 1 hope wrongly, either that you are satisfied with the present order of things, or that you consider that the retiring address of the Chairman, on the eve of an election, to be ari absolutely reliable forecast of the Harbour Board's actions during the ensuing term. I 'notice also, that though the matter of selecting a candidate for this end of the district is still in a sort of committee stage, you are strongly supporting my friend Mr J. G. Cobbe's candidature. At meetings of the Chamber of Commerce I have frequently drawn attention to the increasing charges of the Wellington Harbour- Board, and hare always understood Mr Cobbe to say that he considered the charges reasonable. May L say that I entirely disagree with this view, and base my opinions on the following facts: First, since .1908 I the Harbour Board's wharfage charges have increased 33 1-3 per cent., ! viz., from 2s to 2s 8d per ton. lam glad to note that the Chairman now, calls a halt, but I think we want more than that, and should demand a reduction. Second, Wellington is often quoted as the cheapest port in the Dominion. I have made inquiry on this point, and find from two letters just to hand from Auckland merchants that the inward wharfage on manures, etc., in Auckland is Is b'd per ton, as against 2s 8d per tan in Wellington. Merchants here frequently have to meet Auckland competition, even as close as Mangaweka, where only this season I had to meet an Auckland quotation, and the Is 2d per ton difference in Auckland's favoiur, had it not existed, would have secured the business. —I am, etc., H. Tolley.