PORT OF FOXTON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 197, 15 May 1920, Page 8

PORT OF FOXTON

HINDRANCES TO TRADE

THE HARBOUR BOARD'S PROBLEMS

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, May 14. The members of tho Foxton Harbour Board, which usually meets 111 Falmerstoc North, paid a visit to l'oxton today to inquire into mntlers relating to shipping. At a meeting there tha chiurnwi explained that Mr I'idler, ol Levin and Co., agents for tho 6u-anier Kennedy, had been asked to attend »u order that sonio arrangement might be coino to for regular trade between Foxtoi. and Wellington, lhcro had been verv little doing during the past month or two, but in spito of that tho e\pense.i of the port wero going on all the time The question was, Is it to get more boats 011 this run, or could the trips -of the Kennedy be increasid?" . Mr. Fuller went fully into the position and stated that tho Iwnuedy had been running at freights which left no margin of profit and had been kept going regularly except during a period when sh.- was laid up for repairs. On onlv tlu'co occasions had tlio steamei deviated from the Fox ton route, and this was owing to the tides 011 tho loxton ba:- being unsuitable. Very little cargo was offering for that port. Since the purchase of tho boat m August last, tho Kennedy had made JG trips up to tho end of March. Foxton was a most difficult port to work., no mentioned the difficulties experienced 111 connection with tho discharging and loading of boats at Wellington, .which had alsu militated against a regular service. In addition to this the ken. iiedy was an old boat , and would not stand the strain of going 011 the slip too often. As far as draught was concerned she was a suitable boat for tlio port as she could carry 2CO tons on an Bft Gi'i. draught and at spring tides Aha could tako even more into Foxton. \t 110 a|) tides, however, she could not carry anything like that amount. Iho mai l trouble, was tho seai.iity o: suit-, aide boats, and this was the ease alt over tlio Dominion. II would l)e some time before any were available, and tlio Foxton run was not 0110 to attract slup--in" 'linns. The drawback of the board not" having its own sheds was referred, to an 1 tho cost ot handling cargo charged by tho liailway Department was also mentioned. Uadt-r proper conditions cargo could be moic expeditiously handled in Foxton .'iin.a in Vfonirig on, Mr Fuller said }.e had avjH-welied a number of l'uhuei-Rton to utilise the boat, but did m «eet with the support the project dvervfa. Ho was convinced that if tho botivd wuld cot a reduction in the <*>t of handling cargo at Foxton, the trade would improve and merchants would bo induced to utilise tho service. . A general discusnon ensued, niter which the matter wae loft for further consideration.