PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 210, 5 September 1934, Page 3

PATEA

HARBOUR BOARD REDUCTION IN IMPORT DUES j. n Arising uut of a discussion at the p previous month’s meeting, the Patea Harbour Board at its meeting yester- f ] day decided to lower the dues ou ini j porU. The chairman (Mr. A. T. Chris t leusen) had given notice of motion, t aud this was carried unanimously yes- I terday, that inward wharfage due on fall general cargoes be reduced from a 2s a ton to Is a ton, retaining the 6d f a ton harbour improvement rate. 1 Mr. Meuli, prior to the discussion on I the motion, asked on behalf of the a South Taranaki Shipping Company, 1 that the board assist import shipping 1 by reducing the dues- He stated that a tire company had been approached by I retail and wholesale firms in Hawera, ’ who were willing to do trade through a the Patea. port rather than by rail, H J the wharfage dues could be reduced. Imports, Mr. Meuli pointed out, had ' fallen considerably but this had been arrested and the situation was ini proved. . Mr. Christensen said he would blame the shipping company for the loss in J ,. import cargoes, which had been falling away steadily. Mr. Meuli said a better management ] of the oilices in Patea and Wellington would assist Ulis branch of shipping. , The Wellington office was keen to get inward cargoes for Patea, but found , that there was little offering. , The chairman said he was very op- j timistic as to the gaining of import . trade again, and the proposed redue- . tion in dues would assist retailers, and j incidentally prove beneficial to con- > sumers. The board may lose on the first twelve months, but would win out j m the long run, he felt assured, lhe lesolution would be submitted to the Marine Department for approval. ; In conjunction with this resolution, a sub-committee, consisting of the chairman Messrs. Blake and Meuli will meet with Mr. P. Parsons, chairman of the shipping company, at Hawera to-day (Wednesday) to come to an understanding agreement with the Hawera trades people. Harbourmaster’s Report. Captain W. E. Barnes (harbour ' mast-er) reported that dviing t e month the bar had been unworkable for 11 days, owing to high winds and 'heavy seas from south and west. Inere had been 11 arrivals and 10 departures, only one or two vessels operating Work had been proceeded with on the eastern wall, but little could be done owing to the scour along the wall. The eastern wall remain* tight. Ike sectional the end of the western wall remained the same as when last io ported on, no further movement having taken place. Al the same time, he was concerned about the movement, as if it moved further, it would be a big job to hold it. The fault on the western will had again opened up and tin. would be blocked again in a couple of days, lhe dredge had removed 23 loads ot spoil from the berths and viaduct. Ou August 13 and 14 further marram grass planting had been done at the westein heads. > Arrangements were made tur tne members of the board to meet on the morning of the next meeting on October 2 and inspect the walls, whaits and pilot station. PORT OF PATEA Imports for the month of July tins veur showed an increase, as well as the exports, which had doubled. This was • lire to the better shipping reported. Following are the port statistics, with those in parentheses tor last year. Imports.—ls2 tons (92 tons), i:sports.— 1173 tons ( 676 tons). Value of Exports—£99,92(l (£35,790).