THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1896.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10129, 12 May 1896, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1896.

The Auckland Harbour Board have had before its members for some time a question of great importance to the port—whether the Board should take charge of the receiving and delivery of cargo 1 The question has arisen thus Some months ago a letter was received from the representatives of the N.Z. Shipping Company, the S,S- and A, Company, and theTyser Shipping Company, (taking the Board to take over the receiving of foreign and intercolonial cargo, This letter was referred to the Works and Tariff Committee to report upon. After about two months' delay, the Works and Tar'S Committee recommended the appointment of a special committee to deal with the whole question of receiving cargo. This recommendation was never given effect to by the Board, but at a: recent meeting a motion was carried, "That the Board take over the receiving and delivering of cargo." It was also agreed that the special committee should formulate a scheme giving effect to tire motion. The oomroittee agreed to send the secretary to Wellington to obtain information as to how the system of receiving and delivering is worked there,

It is evident that the question is a somewhat difficult one, and that every precaution should bo taken not to make it change rashly. The system of receiving and delivering fey the Harbour Board is carried out in Wellington, and iB said to give satisfaction. But the circumstances of the two ports are different. eUington possesses facilities which are not in existence here, and which the Board do not pro-

pose to furbish; atiii r this nature of the cargo, .Mfc, with is . considerably. different. 1 " 'Besides, it is said thai the cost at Wellington is much more than at Auckland) and that is a matter of importance. Whether or iiat.therefSre, the proposed change should be made, should not be held settled because 61 the course taken at Weltjugtoo. It should depend almost solely upon the balance of .conviction oil the' part of the importers. Those who receive goods should be considered ; their interest ought to come first, before . the convenience of the shipping companies or of the Harbour Board is taken into account. The Board, indeed, ought to represent those who have business with the shipping ; but, it cannot be . said that it does so. The first action of the Board when the question was raised ought to' have been to obtain evidence as to- the opinion of the im-

porters. If that had been in favour of the change, then there would have been nothing more to be said. The Harbour Board would simply have had to make the necessary arrangements for the new system. But, so far as we can see, the Harbour Board has not taken the necessary steps to ascertain the opinion of those who will be affected by the change. The importers of grain and produce have made astrong protest against the carrying out of the proposal. They. were satisfied that the method at present in existence accomplished the work more eha»ply and expeditiously than any soheme indicated by those who advocate a change. The importers cannot have any other desire than that goods coining to the port should be handled and distributed in the most effective and economical way. There is surely a possibility that they know what will be beat for themselves, and are superior in this respect to the members of the Board. It would have been the proper course for the Board in the circumstances to have acted ou the recommendation of the Works and Tariff Committee, and have appointed the special committee to go into the mutter, and take full evidence upon all phases of it. If from the information thus obtained it was shown that the present method was expensive and inefficient, and that a better systoin was possible, they could then claim the assent and co-operation of the importers, and would no doubt obtain these. As the matter stands at present, a majority of the Board, without any adequate knowledge of the question, say in effect that the state-

ments of those most largely interested, and who from years of experience know intimately every detail of the work, are of no value. And at the same time those who desire to make e change have never specifically stated what that change is to be, and how it is to be carried out and worked. All that they can say is, that they will send,, the secretary to pick up information at Wellington. The amount of dues paid by importers is some £18,000 per annum, out of a total revenue of some £24,000, collected for wharfages and harbour dues, and it is surely not unreasonable that the interests of those paying such a large proportion of the revenue should receive fair consideration, The importers assert that the change indicated will not only mean an increased cost in the work of the port without adding anything to the revenue of the Board, but will be detrimental to the interests of those who contribute most largely to the revenue of the port, and prove most vexatious in its working.

We do not say that the present mathod of dealing with goods might not be improved. It might indeed be improved without wholly changing the system, as is at present proposed. But the members of the Board must see that it is highly expedient, indeed necessary, that in making a change they should carry with them the majority of the importers, aud thtt to

force an alteration in the teeth of those affeoted by it is a course which ought not to be adopted. The Board, therefore, ought to go back at least one step, and appoint a sub-committee to investi-

gate the subject.