WANGANUI TOWN WHARF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 39, 16 February 1932, Page 6

WANGANUI TOWN WHARF

MOOTED RISE IN CHARGES WORK MAY CENTRE AT CABTLEULIEF The cost of maintaining the town wharf at Wanganui has demanded the close attention of the Harbour Board in recent weeks, particularly as the Railway Department has broached the question of an increase in handling charges from Is 3d per ton to Is 6d. If this rise materialises it is possible that the whole of the Harbour Board’s activities will be transferred to Castlecliff, and the town wharf will be closed. There has been nothing definite before the board yet as regards removal, but workers on the waterfront who consider that every effort should be made to retain the town service, have become apprehensive at the probability. “Railway officials stated that the loss on working the town wharf was £3OO per annum, based on the three months ended September 30, 1931, and in order to avoid a working loss it would be necessary to increase the handling charge from Is 3d to Is 6d per ton,” stated a report of the special committee set up by the Harbour Board to moot the railway and discuss the positionThis was tabled at yesterday’s board meeting. “The board’s committee stated in reply that the board could not agree to the proposal to increase the handling charge by 3d per ton. On the other hand, if a renewal of this agreement is made for a period of years, it felt that a reduction should be made in view of the ten per cent, reduction in wages and the possibility of further reductions. It also pointed out that the present economic conditions were not normal, and that the loss to some extent was contributed to by the policy of the department in giving cheap railway freights to divert goods to the rail, and in reviewing the whole of the circumstances the committee considered that the present time was not an opportune one to impose the suggested increase. A general discussion (between board members and Wanganui Railway Department oflicials) ensued, and Mr. Stevens (assistant District Engineer) promised to forward the committee’s representations to Wellington.” The report was received and adopted. Tho managing secretary (Mr. W. JGardner) reported having written asking the department for a balance-sheet with reference to the town wharf ..nd that a reply had been received to the effect that the request had been referred to head office.