AUCKLAND'S BUGBEAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1046, 8 February 1911, Page 6

AUCKLAND'S BUGBEAR.

WELLINGTON TRADE RIVALRY. ALONG MAIN TRI'NK ROUTE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February "• All Auckland newspaper correspondent recently animadverted on tlio maimer which the 1 ratio oi' tlie country district* ill tho Auckland and Taranaki provinces was slipping away from Auckland t;> 'lie south, where he said the eyes of the people in tho Bay of l'lenty and on the AVdst Coast were turning to the ultimate detriment of Auckland. This morning " reporter drew tin attention of Mr. A. .1. Entricau (chairman of the Harbour Hoard) to the letter, and elicited some comment. The Auckland Harbour Board, ill'. Kntricau pointed out, makes special concessions for tho handliu!; of all farm produce, t|ie wharfage of farm produce being 25 per cent, less than that on ordinnry goods, both in tho way of export and import, tho former paying only liajf the wharfage)-of imports. 'On tho iiuestion of the comparative cost of carriage to Wo.-t Coast port l :, Wellington has an advantage over Auckland, for while goods can bo shipped Lo.b. at Wellington, .Auckland merchants have to pay 5?. or lis. per ton for railago to Onehimga, a big handicap. •As to an argument that: lines of steamers will probably run from Lyttelton and Wellington to the Bay of l'lenty ports, .Mr* Eutricou is of tho opinion that AudklflSftli tatrohAa© will bo pleased I to sco steamers'in at all these ports from the south, becauso the extra facilities will benefit the Auckland as well hs the southern merchant;. "Any lino of steamers running from Lvttelton to tho East Coast ports will bo.sure to make Auckland tho terminal port, and will thus increase our facilities for communication with them," remarked Mr. Entrican.

• As' for the rumoured line of steamers from . Wellington to, tho Waikato, Mr. ICntrican pointed out that some time ago tho-Hamilton .Chamber of Comnicrco asked.HhoAVellington'Chamber to do sonie■thing, and it was mooted, in reply, that a lino might bo started running from tho ;Wnikhto Heads and 'transferrins cargo t;> a hulk or storehouse for transhipment up tho river.

' "Cndor ordinary conditions tho Auckland merchants need have no fear of competition of that kind," said Mr. Entrican. ! "The bulk of goods in tho shapo of produc© that comes from tho south could bo put oil board the river steamer at Jlerccr after passijg through Auckland, cheaper than they could be carried from Wellington to' tho Waikato Heads, and I know from personal knowlodgo that so far as tho Wellington merchants arc concerned competition is much' keener in Auckland, and prices are lower than in Wellington. I also know from conversation with Auckland merchants tlifit they nro determined to do tho business of the Waikato." The proper way, howover, to prevent an extensive railing of goods from Auckland to tho Waikato was to make tho proposed canal and so join the Waikato River with the' Auckland Harbour. A considerable amount of outlay will bo necessary, as at present no vessels of any draught or laden with cargo can negotiate the river, but tho expenditure will bo justified by tho result lie' was assured.