NEW PLYMOUTH WHARF AND RAILAGE CHARGES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10707, 1 September 1896, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH WHARF AND RAILAGE CHARGES.

In the course of the article referred to in' our Monday's issue, the Opunake Times says the only real -'.difficulty before the Board now is the wharf and the carriage of goods to and from the port. The Board recognises that having secured the breakwater and done what they hope will overcome the sand, they must now devote the whole of their attention to the proper management of the trade ef the port, more particularly so as they recognise that from one cause or another it is decreasing. Though the district that should be tapped by the port has 'of ; late years very greatly increased, probably doubled, the trade of the port has actually slightly decreased, as shown by the revenue from wharfage, port dues, &c. In 1894 it amounted to £3999 9s lid ; in 1895, to £3968 lQi 2d. ( From these figures the decrease seems, much less than it really is, for during the first three months of '94 only 2s per ton wharfage was collected for the whole 12 months. • Though to some extent the failure of trade may be due to the increased rate of wharfage, it is undoubtedly almost solely due to the exorbitant railway charge. The Railway Depart'irient charge '3s 6d for taking goods the short distance between the port and New Plymouth. While the Harbour Board only charge 3s per ton wharfage, when their harbor cost £230,000 and over £4000 a year to maintain, the Railway Department charge 3s 6d per ton to convey the same gdodd'over a short piece of line that could not have cost £15,000 at the outside. The Board has appealed to the Department to reduce the rate again and again,' but without success." The Department not * only charge that extortionate rate, but compel ' you to let them carry your goods whether yorl wish it or noi, even to the extent of forcing shippers of goods down the coast to take their goods right pastjthe breakwater, and' then pay : 3s 6&", per -ton t6 lake' them back again— a class of injustice quite unique ; and that is how the few of the; coast., ratepayers (all of whom* have to pay so dearly for this doubtf ul benefit) are treated . So far tho Government have refused all appeals to reduce, .and the Board is powerless, as at the 'time that one member of the Board -was urging' on 'the Board to order up the' rails the (Government passed an Act which practically confiscates the wharf, which cost £18,000 of the ratepayers', money (part of the sinking fund).