LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13700, 17 March 1908, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

j A QUESTION OF FREIGHT. ; Sir.— I have just read the letter from th« • I agents of the Tyser Line, Limited, on the ! above-named matter, and would like to send a line or two thereon. First of all, as chairman of the meeting I at no time have said that "the bill of lading distinctly says the freight was paid," because I knew to the contrary. But, I believe that owing to the action of the Tyser Company the consignee in Auckland has-been forced to pay freight twice in order to get his goods. Now this is a thing that may tome home- to any merchant, in this city at any time, and it is surely wrong. Then 1 also know that the reservation clause, giving the ship a lieu on the goods, is a clause that is not exactly" the binding thing it looks; in fact, it had been upset numbers of times in different courts of law. B. KENT, Vice-president Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Sir.—l was rather astonished to read Messrs. Heather, Roberton, and Co.'s letter in reference to "Freight Payable London.*' I assume the bill of lading was signed by the captain or ship's agents, and is it, not the custom throughout the world to hand over this class of bill -of lading on payment of freight'.' But my interpretation of the difficulty is that there is such rivalry in the shipping trade the shipping companies are giving the consignors credit, i.e., running weekly or monthly accounts, which puts tins responsibility entirely on the shipping companies' shoulders and opens a very wide door for discussion on colonial shipments of perishable, goods as well as British or foreign ones, If Messrs. Heather, Roberton, and Co.'s interpretation is correct, what security has the consignee in case of the consignor's bankruptcy? When freight is made payable at port, of shipment it is to secure a lower rati-. The bank accepts the consignor's documents with Freight payable London" bill of lading (assuming that the freight, has been paid) attached, and the draft includes freight plus insurance, exchange, and commission on same. On arrival of steamer the consignee is told by steamer's agents that the consignor did not pay freight, and the bank is advised likewise, and to avoid trouble it declines to hand over documents, and if the consignee wants his goods he must pay two freights, and probably lose one, through the laxity of the shipping company. I think it is a matter for the Chamber of Commerce to take up, because if you read , some shipping notes and bills of lading ] it. will be seen that it is op- ; tional with the ship or steamer whether your goods are delivered or not, though often the Court decides otherwise. Large Importer. THE O'NEILL'S POINT "WHARF. , Sir,— Unfortunately my last letter was not published in time to assist the members of the Board in coming to a just decision on the above important mattervery important when taken in connection with tlKi future of our harbour. In that letter 1 only stilted my own individual opinion, bul 1 thought that might not carry sufficient weight, so I have spent some time trying to find out the intentions of those who framed the Auckland Harbour Board Act. i The Act was passed by the Provincial Council in the session of 1870-71, and apparently upon trie initiative of the Council. But even then the Act could not come into operation until the Provincial Council had agreed to giv- the Auckland Harbour Board £25,000 from the Provincial funds. "More especially," said the Superintendent, " as the sum "to be paid is to be expended on other works of great public utility to the province." Here we have both the colonial and provincial Executive uniting to assist the Harbour Board. Would they have considered a wharf at O'Neill's Point and dredging a channel to same of great publio utility to the province? Not only did thecolonial Executive—Sir Wm. Fox Premier, • and not a single Auckland man in the Ministry—stipulate for the payment of £25,000, but tinder the Auckland Harbour Dock Act they also insisted that the Provincial Council should wipe out the debt owing by the Harbour Trust, to the. province, at the same time handing them over all the harbour endowments. The Superintendent, in his message to the Council urging them to wipe out the debt owing by the Board to the province, said: The further borrowing powers (Harbour Board) will not be granted till the existing debt is swept off. . V- . Looking to the immense benefit to the whole province of providing every facility for the shipping trade, and" thereby attracting commerce to our port," etc. He requested the Council to concur with him in releasing the Harbour Board from their indebtedness to the province. If His Honor Judge Gillies could only sec how the money is being spent by that Board now I think he would acknowledge he had made the one mistake of hi; life in his constitution of the. Board. The? conducted things more economically in those days, and the expense of country members coming to Auckls.nd for meetings would have- been considerable, and I have no doubt the farmers in the Council considered C. —honest men that they were—that the men with whom they dealt m town would be sure to look after the interest of the whole province, as they themselves had done: consequently there were no country settlers on the first Board, and hardly ever ■ since, I feel sure. Has the Board justified the confidence the Provincial Council reposed in them? Nay, • verily,' they have proved absolutely unworthy, as they ■ have been thoroughly parochial for years past. We can well remember the trouble the farmers had in. trotting the cattle wharf at Oraikei, which is a purely provincial concern. Yet it was only after hard fighting that the Board yielded. Then, again, the Board .✓. might kindly show us how the very-large expenditure going on at Birkenhead and Northcote and the proposed expenditure at O'Neill's Point-"is going to attract commerce to our port, and benefit, the whole province." The fact, is the representatives of the various constituencies— and its suburbs—have been getting money expended on wharves, etc., in their respective districts just as if the province \s a whole had no say in the matter. As I stated the other day, I believe, the members acred ignorantly. really believing they had the right to spend the funds of the Board as they liked. Now, if with the information I have given them, they confirm the report of the committee and spend one penny of ■ tit; Board's funds at O'Neill's Point, the farmers of the province should rise in protest against such a manifest misuse of the Board's funds, and prevent the issue, if possible, of the £1,000,000 loan. S. Cochrane Hacks'. P.S.—-Would the members kindly divide on this subject, so that the public ma know how they vote? S. CM.' ' Till: PUBLIC, THE MIDWIVBS, AND ST. HELENS HOSPITAL. Sir,At a recent inquest Dr. Purdv said: " More opportunities should be provided for the instruction of those who practice midwifery." I agree with him. This necessity has often been emphasised before. Winare they not provided? When the St. Helens Hospital was opened this object was in view. Probationers from the registered obstetric homes, and midwives. in practice were permitted to attend the lectures at the hospital, and to sit for the filial State examinaion held there. After the first year . these privileges were switched off. The*lectures and the privilege of being examined for a diploma were limited to those raiding in the St. Helens Uosnifal. Why- If it be churned that the practical training out of this institution is nut sufficiently -ood to warrant the St. Helens hail-mark being given to any but internes, I should like to point out hat the cases in the private homes are attended by the doctors whom the patients engage. Those in the St.: Helens Hospital except l ' few abnormal cases, are attended by the matron. Why should the practice of the doctors be less sufficient or in* (rucive than that of the matron? Tie registered homes have every year a clientele o.irom oto 60 each. The average mfdwi ha, ,i large measure of experience. She is ■S'.orant ,t° £ H sound technique-untaught ' uuni; Va She 1 r taK,w « designed to supply. She lis not now permitted to "trend ' hem. Tim lectures are limited to the few n ta!"'" Whv? H - who Hve in th ° hospital. \\hy? How are the public needs to be sup-died? Where do the wives of the workers come in. who wish to remain in safety m their °" °™** . They cannot attend a hospital nurse at two guineas. Akbaces. THE CADET CAMP. Sir.,— some unpleasant remarks hav« been made regarding the desirability of alowing lads lo go into camp for military raining. I would ask you to kindly permit me as a Father of one of the boys to stall my views on the subject. <)„ Wednesdaylas I visited the cadet camp at Papakura and was greatly impressed with the splendid behaviour of the lads and the arrangements made for their comfort. Their marching and drill generally was something to be remembered, and I could not help feeling a little British pride that my boy was amongst those who were deriving benefit from the excellent training and discipline. In conclusion, sir, I would like to thank tin- captain and officers-, whose efforts on behalf of the boys deserved". \ vthe highest praise. Nat. Eeddington. V - Birkenhead ~ ' :.