CARRIAGE OF HEMP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 112, 8 April 1930, Page 2

CARRIAGE OF HEMP.

..- - . « ‘ RAIL VERSUS WATER. FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD’S POSITION. A'iserious view of the proposal made by the Railway Department to reduce freight charges on nepip from Foxton and to bind mill-owners to consign the whole of . .their output, by rail was taken by members of the Foxton Harbour Board at yesterday’s meeting. Mr J. A.'Nash said that when the position had been communicated to him he. had conferred' with the chairman (Mr *L LinklatCr) ahd a joint telegram had been sent to the Minister objecting to the proposals. If carried into effect, the scheme would result in the whole of this business being taken from the port. At the present time the railways carried about two-thirds of the hemp and_ the port one-third. The Railway Department was prepared to reduce • itß charges considerably to bring them into line with the water freight: This was considered by the speaker to be quite unfair, as the department proposed to bind the millowners down to take their whole output by rail. ’ ......... Mr Kellow: Why is it unfair? It may bo silly competition, but it appears to me to be quite fair. Mr Nash said the Minister had suggested a deputation from the board to discuss the matter, and he' agreed that this should be done. It was unfair for the Railway Department to endeavour to cripple the port in this manner. Of course the board had a lever in the harbour charges for green leaf. Mr Edwards: The Manager of the Railways is wasting public money by hauling flax 60 miles further in <*rder to kill the Harbour,Board. Mr Perreau: We all wish the flaxmillers to get as cheap rates as possible, but I, for one, protest against the Government stepping in and endeavouring to bind the millers to send the whole of their output by rail. Mr Kellow said he felt there was mo re, in it than appeared on the surface, and perhaps the board had hold of the wrong end of the stick. Mr Perreau said* that reference had been made to the board’s right to charge 4s a von .for' green leaf. If this were imposed it would kill the industry. He understood that the department had not made any promise, but that its business agent had merely made a reoommendation. - Mr Kellow: That puts a different complexion on the matter. Mr Perreau: Unfortunately, we have not now enough boats to take out the freight. , *

Air Linklater: The board ‘ does mot want to work against the interests of the millers. TireV have had a hard timo and the board should assist where possible. Water carriage is cheaper now than rail carriage and the department proposes "to bring its rates down to the same level. They have reduced it to what is -to them an unpayable level and we should protest. Mr Kellow said that road competition was keen, freights for this mode of transit being cheap. If the . department were taking this action to block the carriage of hemp by road, the board would nave to be careful in its negotiations. Air Blenkhorn: How did the i agent, convene a meeting? The secretary: He saw them singly. Mr Blenkhorn: Why cannot we take a leaf out of his book and convene a meeting to discuss the position? Apparently, the main object of the Government's''proposals is to Btifle motor competition. To my mind, we are making a mountain out of a molehill. Mr Nash: Giving concessions as we have done, we are entitled to receive some consideration as a harbour board. Rail carriage is a losing proposition and this is proposed, apparently, to injure the , motor-carrying firms. It may be possible to bring abput a reduction in the shipping chargee. At all events the Minister should be sp proached. If the millers were tied down to carriage by rail and the board found it necessary, at some future date, to impose charges for the-green leaf, the position would be serious for the millers. . I Mr Kellow pointed out that it was a rare thing for boats to connect and it was necessary, therefore, for owners to send .their produce by rail. . It was ultimately decided to authorise- Messrs Nash and Linklater to wait on the Minister and discuss the position. -