DUES ON MAIL STEAMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 268, 4 April 1913, Page 5

DUES ON MAIL STEAMERS.

QUESTION OF EXEMPTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. The exemption of mail-carrying vessels from the pavment of harbor dues was the subject of a. judgment delivered by the Chief .lustice to-day. The ease was brought by means of an originating summons, in which the Wellington Harbor Board was plaintiff and the Union Steamship Company defendant. The company has au agreement to carry mails, cargo and passengers between San Francisco, Wellington and Auckland. The company had the option of extending the service by continuing the voyage of the vessels to Svdnev. and thence back to Auckland or Wellington on certain conditions. Under the Harbor Board Act exemption from wharf dues was granted to steamers carrying mails under contract with the Postmas-ter-On-eral. Tn cases where exemption was provided for bv such contract the plaintill' board contended that once a steamer hud landed her mails in Wellington and left the port, the carriage of mails under contract was at an end. and that the voyage to Sydney and back was not as a vessel currying mails under contract. The Chief Justice decided that steamers were liable to be charged dues until the mails to be carried under contract were received on board, and judgment was given in favour of the plaintiff hoard. ' ■ ■