Freight Question.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 4028, 2 September 1898, Page 2

Freight Question.

A public meeting was (says the Herald) held at New Plymouth on Wednesday evening to consider the best means of obtaining a reduotion in the high rates charged for shipping freights, and other matters connected with the welfare of the port. . Mr H. Goodacre moved that the time has arrived when a substantial reduction should be made in the charges made for sea freights to this port, thereby increasing the trade and enabling the port to be of more efficient service to the inland towns and distriot; that in view of the largely increased area which would avail itself of the breakwater, we believe a reduotion can be made without inflicting any material loss on the shipping oompanies. In doing so, Mr Goodaore said that in 1889 the imports totalled 8478 tons and the exports 7644 tons, while last year the imports had increased to 22,000 tons, and the exports, although not showing such a large increase, Bad gone tip to 9600 tons. They would, therefore, readily recognise that it was quite time the railway people brought down the charges. The shipping freights at this port were also the highest on this coast. Patea, with all its dangers, had cheaper freights than this port. As much as 15s per ton was charged between Wellington and New Plymouth, and to show a comparison he mentioned that it only cost him 20s per ton to get goods from Melbourne. • Mr W. L. Newman stated that steamers trading to Patea were very? small ; their carrying capacity was 70 tons measurement, and the result was that the steamers could be worked veiy cheaply— two men and a boy were happened that the steamers invariably got a full cargo, while the steamers trading to New Plymouth hardly ever got more than one-third- of 'a full cargo, and only about six months in the year —during the butter season— did they obtain good return cargoes. The charge on butter and cheese was only ten shillings per ton. He added that about two-thirds of the freight by th<* Union Company's steamers was carried for ten shillings, and some of that from Dunedin. Mr Newton King said he believed the freight at Patea had been raised some 12 months ago from 10s to 12s 6d. He was one of those who believed a reduo-. tion should be made in the 15s charged locally, and he mentioned that as chairman of Chamber of Commerce he waited on the ' Union Company's people four times during the last year in the endeavour to obtain some concession, but was always met with the remark, 11 When you improve your harbor come and talk to us.", In the matter of the dairy produce he must in fairness state the Union Company had met them fairly. The Company had taken off the Mahinapua, which was unsuitable for the trade, and at large expense to them-aelves-r-and no doubt to their own advantage—had put on the Rotoiti, which if the harbor did not get worse, would probably be able to be worked at the wharf. For f onr or five years past the importers in New Plymouth had been paying from 15s to 17s 6d per ton, but there had been a reduotion on some goods — flour, etc. .Mr Newman — Will you tell the meeting, Mr King, if any flour goes toPatea? „ MrKing— No,ltninknot. Praotioally the whole of the Hawera trade comes through New Plymouth— that is at ten shillings. Passing on he said at the present time the berthage accommodation at the New Plymouth wharf was so small that only two steamers could lie there. The Union Company had at j much inconvenience consequently arranged so that a steamer should arrive here on Wednesday, and then if a coal steamer was in there was a difficulty. It was therefore necessary that in bringing pressure to bear on the freight question the present state of the harbour should also be considered. He did not know what satisfaction could be obtained except by bringing pressure to bear on the Harbour Board. The Union Company would, he thought,, be wilting to meet the wishes of the New Plymouth people, but while the present state of affairs existed he did not think it was much use asking for the reduotion. (Applause.) Mr R. C. Hughes was of the same i opinion as Mr King, that it was absurd to expect any concessions from the shipping oompanies while the harbour was in its present state. The proposition was carried. Mr Carter moved, that this meeting strongly urges on the Harbor Board to increase the wharfage accommodation at the breakwater so that there may be no complaint by the shipping companies on account of insufficient berthage accommodation at -cue wharf; also that they be asked to obtain a larger dredge as recommended by their engineer to more effectively, cope, with the sand difficulty. The mover said in view of the statement made by I Mr King that if sufficient provision is made to enable the steamers to come alongside at all times and unload cargo, the Union Company would be prepared to give a reduotion, the resolution should be\ given effeot to. Mr King— l did not say they would be prepared to give a reduction. I said I they would no doubt bJB prepared to consider the request. ; • The resolution was carried. Mr Govett suggested that some effort might at the same time bip made to get a reduction in the passenger rates. A committee consisting of Messrs Teed, Carter, Shuttleworfh, and H. Goodaore was appointed to- wait on the Chamber of Commerce, an^l it is under- • stood that the matter mentioned by Mr Govett as well as the railway freights on the breakwater line will be considered with the other subjects. ———————— -j