LATE CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 926, 26 June 1903, Page 2

LATE CABLES.

DISCUSSION AT HARBOR BOARD

At the Harbor Board meeting yesterday the following letter was read from Messrs Kennedy and Evans :

“ We have letters from the U.S S. Co. and Eludd&rt Parker, stating that you have approached them asking for reductions in our lightering rates—they have referred these to us. Before we can fully reply to their inquiries, we deem it necessary to ask your Board whether you are willing to take lightered goods from lightewi’ slings, and deliver them, and thus relieve us of tho expenses and responsibility as is done in other purls. If'your Board will thus receive goods from lighters’ Elings, and deliver, and give us receipts for same, we shall be prepared to make a reduction in our rates. Awaiting your favor to enable us to fully answer the shipping companies.” Mr Harding considered the letter very unsatisfactory.

Air Matthewson : Thero is nothing in is at all.

Mr Clark said tho matter was simplo enough ; let the firms give an alternative price,, Mr Sievwright : They have made no proposition—that is only a feeler. There is nothing definite about it. The question is whether we will elmngo our system. What was the responsibility ? >' Mr Matthewson said tho responsibility was only from tho lighters’ slings at the wharf.

Mr Sievwright said ho thought it was practically from the ship. A.-*' Mr Harding suid there was nothing in the letter at ali, unless they read it that Messrs Kennedy and Evans did not intend to make any reduction. The letter was a farce, and unless the Board got their back up aud doiliuncled a reduction they would havo nothing done. Mr Sievwtight.proposed, and Mr Clark seconded, *• That the letter be replied to, asltiug what reJuotion would be made in either of the alternatives specified.” Mr Matthewson -thought they should look to tho shipping companies, not the lightermen, who had nothing to do with the Board. ' Mr Hepburn said if the Board set up lightering tho steamship companies would Yet a contract. •':> Mr Harding said the companies meant to sit tight. Ho moved that tboy set up a committee W interview Mossrs Konnody aud Evans aud thresh the matter out.

lie moved that the whole Board be a committee. Captain Tucker said there was no time like the present; they oould have .isje interview at once. 'vfe Mr Mathewson, while not opposing.jijio motion, still held that they stiould deal with the shipping companies. Mr Hepburn said it made no difference to them. They simply charged the people with the cost of lighterage. , In reply to Mr Bievwright, Mr Ha’iSing said there was no doubt his iutention was - to try and set up lightorage of their own. It was strange that with all the money spent on works the lighterage charges wore the same. - ... Captain Tucker could not quite understand where the Board came in ; it seemed outsido their scope of duties, They had had no request from the importers. Bet them understand what position they were to face. Were they prepared to takotip the work themselves ? Mr Harding : Are we not representative of the people ? ' ‘ Captain Tucker said not for suoh a purpose, any more than they should ask the bakers to reduce the price of breajl. 3 ,i\ Mr Harding asked whether Cap.li&in Tucker wus not present when a deputation interviewed the Board. j . Captain Tucker said yes, and it seeded to him they were being forced into a position they had no right to ocoupy.i()lt seomed as if thoy were being made catspaws of to obtaio a reduction when the duty did not devolve on them at all. } ' ' Mr Harding said there was compact all round, and tho Board represented jthe publicl . The Chairman made a comparison with the Napier charges and tho cost of hand*' ling goads after they had been received at the Napier breakwater. Referring .tl): the quantity of goods handled by lightew in (jisborno, he stated, that although thfVam of £B3OO had been paid in wharfagesapr-a year, £3IOO of that represented fre%Jits which were brought direot to the wphrf, and did not pay lighterage. Over'a Shird of the inward shipments come direi!-to tho wharf. . ! .' :.• j Mr Cooper agrood with Mr Rlatthetfson; it was tho shipping companies thoy. should look to. 'Tf Mr Harding : We havo already asked them. Mr Cooper : I cannot see wa..offli do any good by interviewing Kennedy ail'd * Evans. Tho Chairman : It cannot do any h,\rm. At present Kennedy and Evans look chargo of tho goods. ‘ , v Mr Sievwrigbt said they could heas what Messrs Kennedy and Evans laid- ■" In reply to Captain Tucker,- it. was oxplaiood that the lightormon took ch)rgeof the goods from the vessels; ' In reply to a further question.‘the Chairman said the Board at present had no responsibility, but they were bsing invited to take it On themselves. ; * ; Captain Tucker : If we don’t take the responsibility, don’t let us. We lava enough liability without that. Mr Clark said thoy could not have anything better than Mr Sievwrighc’s motion, He was against any interview. * > tv, Captein Tucker said they should hind- • mer at the companies, who should pot shunt the Board on the companies’ forvauts. ' "Tr -' Mr Clark, in reply to Captain Tucker, said bethought the Farmers’Union tod freezing companies would soon speak ’on the subject with no uncertain sound. f Mr Harding said ho did not think the importers should bo brought into 'the matter at all. He moved an amendment informing tho shipping companies that the Board expected a reply from them. Captain Tucker said that was not incompatible with the motion. Mr Clark thought they should, infortn • the shipping companies they expected communications Co come from them. Captain Tucker and Mr Harding said the question was simply being shunted.; The Secretary explained that Mr Cra- r) mood informed him ho could not rcjjly until he had received one from Messrs • Kennedy and Evans. It was eventually agreed to ask the steamship companies for an answer, am to inform Messrs Kennedy and Evans to that effect.

Captain Tucker said it was simply carrying the-..thing on indefinitely. The--reply would’ be to go to the men and ask’’ them to make a reduction. The reap trouble was that the unions were keeping'-' up the price of labor to an extent; they had to pay 2s an hour. Mr Matthewson said a good deal of it was Sunday work. _ •