WHARF PRIVILEGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13796, 8 July 1908, Page 8

WHARF PRIVILEGES.

DISPUTE OVER A COAL BIN. HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION. These. was a clause' in the Board committee's report presented to the' Harbour Board yesterday which created a lively discussion. Tho committee recommended that a site for a coal bin should be,: granted to- a coal dealer at. '•:' Hobson-street • Wharf ' at, < £1; per s week, subject to three months' notice. .; • ."-/.;• '.- Mr. .W. J. Napier said he would like to know what was the reason for the granting 'of this privilege at £1 a week. It should be at least worth £3' a week." .'. The Board should conserve all the berthage areas and not allow them to be interfered with by the establishment of coal ' bins. This rental of £1 per week was fixed 17 years ago,' when trade was slack, and if put up to auction now it would realise at least* 1 £3 a week. The site. chosen' was where small vessels berthed, and the coal bin would i interfere with their trade. , Why was this priority granted to one man without competition? He moved, as amendment, that the question ho referred back to the: committee to consider whether the privileges should be submitted to auction. • ' *, Mr. A. Keyes: It is granting 'a monopoly and enabling one man to supply coal at } a cheaper rate than' another. ~'" Mr. H. : Bradncy: The old site was at deep water, and this is at shallow water. It would not fetch more than \£l fa' week at auction, and it is only a temporary:.expedient. , ■ - -- ' . Mr. Napier: You , are giving a private advantage. •'' ,' : ' ," •; ■■ ,-■ _, Mr. Bradney: We are simply giving what is given in Sydney and elsewhere. Mr. J. Knoen: I support'the committee, and my reason is that this dealer is bursting up the ring of coal merchants by selling cheaper. ■',- -■■•*.. *-.■■. Mr. Keyes: You are giving him a monopoly to do so. i Mr. 0. C. Dacre: The bin isa ; very-small one, and is only, used for a .few tonsofcoal for a few hours in the week. Mr. A. J. T Entrican thought that, Mr, Napier had some feeling in ; ; the matter, as every time this matter had come up Mr. Napier had spoken very strongly. " He (Mr. Kntrican) agreed that the question should go back to the committee, as ho did not believe in concessions without some competition. ■ ' . ~* " Mr. Napier said he only knew the dealer in question by sight. For 15 years he (Mr. Napier) had oppodes any private advantage : being given to any man. Mr. A. E. Glover said something about " much ado about nothing," and the amendment was then put and lost. ; r -.!After further discussion it was agreed to refer the question back to the committee, with a view, to considering the desirableness of altering the site chosen and reconsidering ! the question of rental.