CONTROL OF WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 213, 28 May 1918, Page 4

CONTROL OF WHARVES

CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. By Telegraph— p ress Association.'. Wanganui, May 27. The Minister of Railways, the Hon.,W. H. Hemes, met a deputation from the Harbour Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and imnorlers here to-night with regard to the docking charge of Is. 6d. a ton recently imposed by the Department at-a number of small ports, including Wanganui. The members tf the deputation ' urged the .Minister to remit the charge, as tho , impost would mean the diverting of coastal shipping to Wellington, with a corresponding reduction in the local harbour revenue. Mr. Herries explained that the elianjo was a fair one to cover the cost of tho work. He said the cbarse could not be remitted, but ho was prepared to discuss the. question of the Wanganui Harbour Board takiiw control of the local wharves and sheds at a rental to be fixed by arbitration. In reply to a member of the deputation, who said the Railway Department had originally commandeered the local waterfront by" Gazette notice, Mr. Herries replied that the laud was the property of the Crown, and not of any local community. It could not bo handed over gratis. A further conference is to be held tomorrow "between the Minister and the Harbour Board to discuss the basis for negotiations'for local control.