RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND WHARFAGE CHARGES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 12062, 5 January 1907, Page 4

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND WHARFAGE CHARGES.

It k most unfortunate and much to be regretted that the railway officials of Wanganui who have charge of the wharf should show so little solicitude for businssft people. Judging by recent occurrences, one is almost forced to the conclusion that the said officials have determined to circumvent every attempt made to improve matters on the wharf, and have resolved to cause as much irritation as possible to consignors and consignees. For a long time past complaints have been loud and frequent at the lack of wharfage accommodation provided by the Department, which seems quite unconcerned about the inconvenience and loss sustained by consignees, who not infrequently have to wait three or four days before they can get their goods out of the shed. The latter requires to be doubled in size to cope with the large and increasing business, but though frequent applications have been made to the Department for redress, no steps have yet been taken to improve matters. On the contrary, insult is to be added to injury. The Harbour Board last evening had before it for consideration a letter from Messrs C. F. Millward and Co., in which attention was drawn to a communication from the Bailway Department, notifying its intention to make an additional charge of Is 6d per ton for sorting goods in the shed. Naturally the Board viewed the proposed charge with anything but feelings of pleasure, and members were justified in concluding, as Mr Higgie remarked, that it seemed as if the Department was trying to damn the port in every way possible. The suggested extra charge of Is 6d is, to say the least, a scandalous proposition, for it is manifest on the face of it that if there were ample accommodation for the cargo discharged by the steamers, and the goods when received were sorted as they should be, the confusion that at present is almost an everyday occurrence would be a thing of the past, and there would be no necessity for additional sorting which is involved when the goods are piled into the shed. The Board should have no difficulty in showing the Minister of Railways the iniquity of the proposed charge and getting the regulation vetoed.