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The Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1876.

Among the topics brought under notice, having a b&ring upon the future of the Colonies, is that of port dirges. The ‘ Wellington ArguS r of Saturday* the; 25th ulti, 'in consequence of many complaints ' having made of ships’ expenses at Wellington, published tables with the view of proving that many complaints by captains of ships and others concerning them are unfounded The. editor, however, cannot do more than offer the excuse for the exorbitant rates,, that they are only a little higher than the port dues at Port Chalmers, on a pat witH those at Lyttelton, and somewhat “ cheaper than Melbourne.” The tables conclusively show that Dunedin is not by any means an expensive port compared with others in New Zealand, and with Melbourne and Sydney. It is well that the subject has been broached, asit isintimately connected with efforts—orat any ratewith proposals—-toimprove Wellington Harbor so that it may become the emporium, at least, for the North Island. We do not look upon those efforts with any degree of apprehension so far as Dunedin is con < cerned. It is quite possible that were freights between Great Britain and Wellington, as compared with Melbourne and Sydney, equalised, much of the trade of the west coasts ef both, Islands hitherto enjoyed by the neighboring rdotles, might be participated in by Wellington. But even this is doubtful. It sounds very well to tell us that Wellington will then be in a position to command a trade with the West Coast; as if lower freights would be the exclusive privilege of the Empire village, tf the idea is that every other port would have to pay high freights excepting Wellington) the full force of the argument is evident. Its failing point is that all ports with equal facilities would equally share the benefit; and therefore the present relative expenses would be maintained. Shortly after the bonding system of Great Britain was applied to imported wood, a merchant in one of the largest p&fts contracted for building the necessary walls and gates to bis timber yard. He, surveyed the foundations, strode over the ground, and then turning over in his mind the amount of money of which he obtained the use through the Government not requiring immediate payment of custom duties on imports, he was heard tc say aloud—- “ I shall now import ton cargoes of deals more in a year than X have ever done.” Poor dreamer ! he forgot that his competitors possessed precisely the same privileges; he did not import ten but he and all in the trade rubbed on a .-t,.* far as their relative amount of business was concerned. It must not, however, be imagined that the relative extent of the commerce of our principal ports is not likely to be affected by the amount of port charges, and that it is of no consequence whether they are high or low. All experience goes to prove that those ports that are the least expensive, other things being equal are likely to bo the most prosperous. Hitherto there has been a tendency on the part of Provincial Treasurers in Otago and elsewhere to calculate upon harbor dues as so much revenue to be dealt with. Luckily for Dunedin, the Harbor Trust has relieved the Provincial Executive of the responsibility of dealing with that branch of revenue, and it is sincerely to be desired that the splendid estate of the Harbor Board will be so energetically and skilfully managed that at np distant date harbor dues may be remitted nearly, if not altogether. This is the end that should be kept steadily in view, however distant may be the period of its realisation. A tax on. shipping, like a protective duty, is not paid ultimately by shipowners, but by the people who levy it, because the cost of port dues forms an important element in the calculation of rates of freightage. If the port charges are heavy, they: tend to cripple trade, and the inhabitants of a seaport would really act wisely by taxing themselves directly for port charges, and making theirs a free port. It may bo contended that this would be unfair to those who have no direct interest in mercantile matters ; and, if such a one is to be found, it would be quite fair to relieve him from participation in the tax. But we would ask who is not interested in it 1 Squatter, farmer, tradesman, landlord, tenant j every man, woman, and child supported directly or indirectly by the earnings of the place is interested if wearing imported manufacture or consuming imported produce. A 1 though the saving seems only to a class, it really extends to all, just as the extra cost of goods through heavy port charges is gathered in infinitesimal sums from consumers. We are far too apt to regard national investments in the same light as joint-stock companies, and to imagine that heavy dividends indicate wellworked enterprises. Until this mis-, take in our notions of the true end of national investments is corrected we shall never truly reap the benefit that should be derived from ports and railways. The object of improving a port or constructing a railway is not so much adding directly to revenue, as cheapening production and distribution by facilitating transport of goods. By these means population is sustained, production developed, and trade increased. Trade tjiat apart from those appliances could not have been profit-

ablj conducted, becomes remunerative, and all classes share in the consequently increased So far as Dunedin is Concerned, the aim should be to make it a'free po& |

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18760406.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 4091, 6 April 1876, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
938

The Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1876. Evening Star, Issue 4091, 6 April 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1876. Evening Star, Issue 4091, 6 April 1876, Page 2

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