WOOL TRANSPORT COSTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 26 February 1934, Page 11

WOOL TRANSPORT COSTS

SHIPPING CHARGES STAND REDUCTIONS NOT FEASIBLE HARBOR BOARD’S DECISION A combined recommendation of the Avharfages, tariff and finance committees of the Gisborne Harbor Board submitted at to-day’s meeting of that body indicated that no reductions in the cost of handling avo.ol over the ■wharves at Gisborne can be considered at present. The combined committees submitted their views on tho subject in the following report: — “A meeting of the committees combined Avas held on February 19 and as directed by the board consideration Avas given to the Cook County Council and the Farmers’ Union’s suggestion that shipping charges on wool to Napier be reduced Avitb the view to encouraging transport by sea instead of by road. Various phases of the question ivere looked into and tho committee came to the conclusion that it is not feasible for the board to make a reduction of charges great enough to have any effect in the direction desired. On the information available tho committee cannot recommend attempting to alter the position by reducing the harbor charges. ’ ’ When the report came before the Harbor Board to-day, Mr. T.’Corson mentioned that the cost of shipping wool, from store to store at Gisborne and Napier, was 10s Bd, and that the harbor improvement rate represented only 4 4-5 d per bale. The saving to the farmers by eliminating this rate on avool to Napier would hardly benefit the farming community. Mr. A. J. Nicol pointed out that if the board eliminated the rate on the wool shipped to Napier, it Avould have to do the same on wool shipped elsewhere, the total of which Avas about 17,500 bales. It was felt by the committee that, in any case, avool Avhich went overland at present would continue to go overland, as it suited the farmers to use this form of transport. » Mr. C. 11. Williams commented that unless the shipping companies could bo induced to reduce freights, there Avould not be much relief for farmers. Mr. C. Scott thought that as a conference was to bo held shortly, it would not be Aviso to make any decision at the moment. Mir Williams was of the opinion that if the board felt that a harbor improvement rate Avas a fair one, no special form of cargo sho.uld be favored by an exemption from that rate. The board appointed Messrs. J. Tombleson and A. J. Nicol as its representatives to confer,; Avith shipping and farming interests on the whole subject of sea freighting of avool.