Awanui Harbour Board.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 38, 14 October 1927, Page 4

Awanui Harbour Board.

Monthly Meeting,

The monthly meeting of the Awanui Harbour Board was held thi.a morning. Present: Messrs A H Long (Chairman), J N Berghan, W Vickers, T S Houston, R T Wrathall, C J E Barriball, E A Evans, and D Kitchen. Mr D Archibald wired from Auckland asking that the Board defer consideration of wharfage charges and thus give business people an opportunity of getting together and discussing the matter.

Messrs A G Frankham Ltd. wrote saying that it was understood that the Board is making wharfage charges as per a copy of the rules and regulations published. They stated, “We understand that the Northern Company have their own wharf and that no harbour improvement rate will be paid in respect of any goods passed over their wharf. We ask that your Board defer making these charges until both ourselves and the Northern Go. can be put on tl.e same footing. We don’t object to pay the harbour improvement rate until the two companies are pul on the same footing.” They also pointed out that the present arrangement would mean that shippers by their boat would be penalised and it might ultimately mean that their boat would be forced off the Auckland-Awanui run.

A general discussion which ensued showed that the board members were of ihe opinion that there was no differentiation intended and Mnrsrs Long, Berghan and Kitchen stated positively that theypaid th* rate in rnpect of the goods delivered ever the Northern Coy’s wharf. Mr Kitchen moved: TbatMessrs FrankhamLtd.bcinformedthat the Northern Cay pays a wharfage rate at Awanui and that the Northern Coy be asked to supply a list of the charges made by them and then the Frankham Coy to collect similar amounts for the board on all goods shipped by them on a commission basis of 10%. Mr Berghan seconded. Mr Houston said Messrs A G Frankham Ltd would not allow their agent to act as Wharfinger at Awanui. It was a question of making arrangements to have a man to act in this capacity. Mr. Wrathall said the board should take action to place both Companies on the same footing, there would then be no suggestion of one company having preference over the other.

Mr. Houston : There is an anomaly at present we are not collecting anything. The first thing to do is to make arrangements for collection. We have agreed to our schedule and this might mean that we will have to compile a new schedule.

The Chairman: That is not intended we can vary our charges as we like and my point is to get from the Northern Coy. to supply their charges and to. get Frankham to collect on this rate from us. We dont know at present what we are getting over the wharf so we can say if there will be enough to warrant the appointment of a collector. At present we are like Mahomet’s coffin between Heaven and Earth. We are only commencing to function and there are a lot of things we have to find out.

Mr. Houston moved an amendment: That collection under the present by -I ws and wharf charges at Awanui he suspended until such time as the scale paid in respect of all goods shipped by the Northern Coy come to hand and are considered.

The Chairman: We can’t do that.

Mr Houston : Why can’t you. These by laws ca ne into force on October Ist, and we have not collected anv fees at present. That means the by-laws have automatically been suspended. Mr Wrathall seconded. The Chairman : We are going to collect them.

Mr Houston: I am moving that collection merely be suspended, It is similar to the wean-

ing of Mr Kitchen’s motion. Mr Wrathall: It merely means suspension of collection until we get uniformity. The Chairman : In the meantime I won’t agree to suspension. Mr Wrathall: What are you going to do. The Chairman: We will endeavour to collect them.

Mr Wrathall: And what if you can’t.

The Chairmaa : We will suspend collection but not the bylaws.

Mr Wrathall: That is what we say.

The Chairman: V"ou are saying a lot and trying to dominate the situation, Mr Wrathall: As members of' this Board we have a right to express ourselves and you have no right from your position in the chair to suggest that we are dominating the position. Mr. Houston: We are not dominating the meeting. The Chairman:' Lwas not referring to you.

Mr Wrathall: You said “we.” I would not have thought of saying that to you.no matter how much I thought it. The Chairman: You didsoinferentiaily. The Clerk said the am’ a 1 meat wa= out of order. The by-L.vs could not be suspended -v 'h Mt notice oi motion.

Mr Houston: I rise to a poi it of order. I did not sa - oca J the bylaws, but the coii ’..on \a the meantime.

Mr. Wrathall suggested that collection be not enforced pending the receipt ot the scale jf charges made by the Norther* Coy.

Mr Barriball considered that the by-laws should be suspend i until the information required came to hand. The amendment was defeated and the motion carried.