IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 141, 14 May 1930, Page 8

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES. Opinions on the question of handling charges at tho port of Wellington were recently expressed by Messrs M. A. Eliott and A. P. Stewart, and more was heard of the matter at the monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon when Mr Stewart submitted figures in support of his contentions. “It will be seen from the chart which I have drawn up that the port authorities at Lyttelton and Timaru treat their customers, importer and exporter, alike,” stated Mr Stewart. “Auckland and Otago charge importers 20 to 25 per cent mo/e on farm produce and 66 per cent more on general cargo, while Wellington makes the greatest distinction and charges importers 400 per cent more. The last reduction in wharfage, 3d per ton, made by the Wellington Harbour Board was 25 per cent on exports, but only 6J per cent on imports. If the Wellington Harbour Board charged 166 per cent more in 1925, how can they justify charging 400 per cent more now ? Wellington also levies a harbour improvement rate of Is per ton on imports. .This charge is passed on by the shipping companies on Australian and coastal cargo. Timaru also levies a harbour improvement rate, but it is charged on imports and exports alike. “To illustrate the difference at the two main North Island ports, Auckland and Wellington, and this is what concerns importers, owing to the lighter charges at Auckland a Hamilton draper could import tho identical goods through Auckland and land them from 6s to 7s per ton cheaper than a Palmerston North draper could through Wellington ex the same steamer on the same voyage. It would seem that the importers are paying too much and the exporters too little. Importers do not mind paying a reasonable amount more, but 400 per cent, is not equitable.”

Mr Eliott stated that apparently Mr Stuart was losing sight of a very important fact. All the handling on the wharves at Auckland was done by stevedores who charged for their services. whereas the Wellington \port did all the handlin'"’. Mr Stuart maintained that his comparisons were equitable. Mr Eliott said that the two Harbour Boards worked under entirely different systems. The report was formally received and it was decided to obtnin information from individual importers in Auckland and Wellington.