THE Manamatu Herald. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1879. THE MANAWATU WHARF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume i, Issue 51, 21 February 1879, Page 2

T HE Manamatu Herald. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1879. THE MANAWATU WHARF.

We desire to ventilate one or two questions relative to the Foxton ■wharf. Anything connected with the district port, is of interest to the whole County, for reasons that are self-evident. If the cost of shipment is unduly increased, the whole of the producers and consumers in the district suffer indirectly; whilst any charges, levies, or fees, which are placed upon this port, and not levied at others, must have a damaging effect upon our trade, and absorb part of Ihe profits whhich should flow into the pockets of the producers. We are the more free to discuss this question, for the reason that although we had occasion to write sharply regarding Mr Eotherham some months ago, and to criticise adversely what appeared to be liia 2ienehant in favour of Wanganui— we say that although we did so, we have at all times been ready to compliment him upon the energy and success with which he has worked the line, and to give him every oredit where it was due. The very fact that a Civil Service official is unable to defend himself from newspaper attacks inclines us at all times rather to lean to the defenceless. Nevertheless, duty to the dis»> fcrict sometimes calls for a few plain words of remonstrance, and to allow kindly feelings to preponderate in such a case, and to refrain from stating the truth, would be— not charity, but a flagrant neglect of duty, and a surrender of the obligations every journalist is supposed to fulfil.

One matter, then, we desire to comment upon, is the fact, that whilst at Foxton wharf a charge is made of 3d per hundred feet upon all timber, vessels are re. peatedly laden at a small railway wharf in Wanganui free of oharge. This is a fact well-known throughout

the district. The explanation given is, that vessels taking railway material to the Government wharf at Wanganui desire an outward cargo, and that it is a great convenience to allow them to load there, as otherwise th«y would have no cart the timber to the Corporation wharf for shipment. We confess the answer seems a very weak one. The effect of this is to place Wanganui traders in a superior position to those at this end of the line. It is a wellknown fact that shipmasters prefer to go where dues are Jighest, and the greater the competition, the cheaper freights become. It may be said, "Oh but the timber that is shipped at the Railway Wharf would not go to Foxton, in any case !" We presume the object of wharf charges, &c, is not to balance the chances of progress of on 6 port against another. That could be done by abolishing all levies and charges. Yet that is the covert meaning of the remark we ar« considering ; and which we often hear. Doubtless there are numerous cargoes of wool, &c, shipped from Foxton, which would certainly not be despatched from Wanganui, whilst the Manawatu River flows to the sea ; we presume Mr Kotheram, or any other official, would smile if we were to say, " Oh, you needn't pay wharfage for this wool, because you know it wouldn't go to Wanganui, in any ease I" Yet that is precisely the reductio. ad alsurdum of a remark which was made some time 1 ago to us when complaining privately of the free shipments at the small railway wharf at Wanganui. At present the Government are losing considerably by what we refer to. It would be comparatively little trouble to have the wharf in question gazetted a " Railway Wharf," a charge equal to that made at Foxton could be made, and then nothing could be complained of. Wo do not make these remarks from any petty spirit of local jealousy. AYe take the broader ground of a distinct principle, that in matters of departmental administration the very slightest tinge of favoritism to one port, as against another, should be avoided ; and if Wanganui is to re - ceive special advantnges, to the detriment of the revenuo of tho de~ partment, Foxton should certainly share in them.

A second matter to which we desire to refer, is the recent resignation of the Foxton. wharfinger. It is currently reported in the district that the official in question, dissatisfied with the system of working his branch of the service, has forwarded his resignation. We are not, of course, aware of the exact grounds of dissatisfaction, bnt it is generally understood to be that sufficient. men are not employed efficiently to perform the work, and that whilst early dispatch is required of all goods, the staff allowed is utterly inadequate to attain thai end. If such is the complaint made by the wharfinger, we think it a perfectly legitimate one. We do not desire unnecessarily to intrude our opinions upon Mr Eotherham's method of conducting the line, bu t certainly anyone seeing the amount of work a few men are frequently called upon to perform at the whaif, and- in the sheds, whilst steamers are being unloaded, would see at a glance that the staff is insufficient. Instead of a fu'l complement ot officials being employed, one of the subordinates is required to perform a clerk's duty after the cargo is stacked, and .the effect is that delivery cannot be taken of the goods until the whole is discharged, aud the •'•' manifest " written up. Owing to this, uns necessary delay and trouble are occasioned. If there were a pioper staff of men, the inward cargoes could be checked off as they arrived in the sheds, and at once placed in the waggons for up-country delivery, instead of being handled two or three times. We do not say a large staff could at all times be employed, but when a rush of work takes place, the officials should not be bound down to the practice of cheeseparing economy. Tho first object of the whole Government service should be efficiency. We fear Mr Rotherharn. has a tendency to substitute " economy." He has unundoubtedly succeeded iii bringing the line to a most honorable position, and as a Government official, is no doubt ambitious to gain the esteem of his superiors by economic management. All this is perfectly proper, but he will fiud that a thoroughly efficient service will give him more honor than tho saving of a few pounds. It was remarked to us the other day, by a shipping officer, that " owing to lack of sufficient men and proper appliances, Foxton was one of the worst ports in the Colony."