PORT CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 10

PORT CHARGES

Like many a previous argument on the same subject, the discussion at this week’s meeting of the Otago Harbour Board on the question of port charges led nowhere in particular. As a representative of country interests Mr E. S. Thompson seems to regard it as his duty to impeach the board of which he is a member in respect of its charges in so far as they affect the primary producer. He has characterised these ■as “ nothing short of daylight robbery.” In the circumstances Mr Thompson must really find it a little difficult to remain a member of such a body. He is apparently not much concerned about the port charges in other directions, which go to mpke up a revenue —apart from rents derived by the Board—to which the contribution by the primary producers amounts to something like one-tenth. But, except as a bad advertisement for the port, this girding at the Board in respect of its dues on exports serves very little purpose. The Board would undoubtedly be delighted to reduce both its charges upon exports and also its other charges were the way clear for it to do so. But it has to have a revenue, sufficient to meet its outgoings, which include interest upon its indebtedness, and this necessity dictates its charges. Unless there were a prospect that a reduction of dues would attract trade to the port to an extent that would ensure that there would be no shrinkage in revenue it would be incompatible with the maintenance of a sound financial policy that such a reduction should be instituted. Because the Bluff Harbour Board, which is in a much easier financial position, is able to reduce its dues, it does not follow that, the Otago Harbour Board should be able to do likewise, however much it may dislike seeing a certain amount of Otago produce railed to the southern port for export. It would be highly satisfactory, to everybody if the charges imposed at the Port of Otago could be materially reduced all round. But the prospect of this being rendered possible must depend upon an increase in the trade of the port, which may be hoped for when the economic position shows distinct improvement, and upon a growth of the Board’s revenue through the leasing of unoccupied endowments when better times prevail.