THE PROPOSED SPECIAL COAL RATE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 July 1901, Page 4

THE PROPOSED SPECIAL COAL RATE.

(Westpoet Times,)

We do not expect the Westport Harbour Board to adopt the motion of which Mr E. M’Kenzia had given notice, to impose an extra special rate of threepence per ton on all coal brought over the Westport railway for shipment. Mr M’Kenzie himself appeared rather doubtful of success, for when objection was expressed and the Chairman ruled that notice of such a motion was necessary, Mr M’Kenzio intimated that he might not bother the Board at all, but bring the matter directly under notice of the Government Clause 12 of the Westport Harbor Board Act of 1884, which it is proposed to bring into operation, provides that, “so soon as a sum of *6250,000 has been expended in the improvement of the harbor of Westport, there shall be paid, in respect of every ton of coal brought for shipment in the said harbor, by the shipper thereof, a sum of 3d as a special rate, for the purpose of being applied towards the repayment of the moneys authorised to be borrowed under the Act, and the in-

teres t thereon ; and to the repayment of the sum of £145,511 12s 6d charged upon the Buller Coalfield Reserve by ‘ The Westland and Nelson Coalfields Act, 1877,’ together with the interest thereon.” In the first place, we may corroborate the remembrance of Messrs Suisted and Colvin, that this clause was only inserted in the Bill as an additional collateral security in raising money by loan. The necessity has not, so far, arisen for vitalising the provision, and any attempt to do so would bo unwise. Local policy always has been to render the coal industry as free of superfluous charges as possible. The Harbor Board have often enough discussed the feasibility of reducing the haulage rate, and that they did do something of this sort is held by the defunct Cardiff Company as a grevious complaint against them. To reduce the rate was considered as too gieat interference with revenue, although the refusal to do so may have assisted in the demise of the Cardiff Company. But to practically increase the charge by threepence per ton would be such an unnecessary reversal of policy, so unfair to the Westport Coal Company, injurious I to struggling colliery undertakings, and deterrent to new investor, that there will be general surprise at it coming from such a level-headed member of the Board as Mr M’lienzie. The crying need of this district is (1) to encourage the existing coal companies to further prospect and develop their mines and expand their operations, and (2) induce other capitalists to invest money in opening up the vacant coal lands of the locality. Increase of charges will not assist in effecting these useful objects, but, on the contrary, will have a deterrent effect. In considering matters of this sort it must always be remembered that the Westport Coal Company (on which the bulk of extra charge would fail) is the very lifeblood of the Buller district communities. That company has already been mulcted in extra heavy annual expenses by the workers’ compensation for accident legislation, and if the shareholders are to receive such sufficient return for their money as to induce them to extend their operations and encourage others to follow their enterprising

example then such charges must be passed on to the consumer The high retail price of coal is already a sore point throughout the colony, and the strain would only be increased by the adoption of any such proposal as that suggested by Mr M'Kenzie.