DEPUTATION.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 405, 29 September 1875, Page 3

DEPUTATION.

A deputation from the City Council, composed of his Worship the Mayor, and Crs Thomson, Wood, and Jones, accompanied by Mr Gordon, town clerk, waited on the Government yesterday, at noon, in accordance with a resolution passed by the Council, to ask that a reduction might be made on the rates of wharfage and haulage of coals from Lyttelton. The deputation was received by his Honor the Deputy-Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, the Secretary for Public Works, and Minister for Education.

The Major said the deputation had the honor to wait on the Government in accordance with a resolution of the City Council proposed by Cr Ick (whom he was sorry to say was not present that|morning) to ask if the Government could see their way to reduce the railway charges for bringing coals to Christchurch. Perhaps the Government might consider that this matter did not come within the province of the City Council, but as representing the citizens, they (the Council) knew that the present price of coals pressed very heavily on them, and it the Government could see their way by any possibility to make some reduction in the direction asked, no matter however small, it would be felt as a boon by a large section of ratepayers. It had been thought

by many that the additional charges on the Lyttelton line had V een imposed because the branch lines of railway were not paying. He did not know whether this was the case, but if so, looking at the question as one of equity alone, he thought it hardly fair that the people of Christchurch should have to pay an extra charge to make up for such deficiencies. Whether such was a fact or not, if the Government could see their way to make some reduction, no matter however small, the action would be gratefully felt by the citizens.

Or Thomson would like to state that the price of coals bad risen 3s 6d, and the reason given by the merchants for such advance was that the Government had advanced their charge to that amount, viz, 2s 6d for wharfage and Is made up in some other manner, whether for crancagc or trimming up the heaps he did not know. The increase, however, was a large one, and having some knowledge of this matter, be thought it also excessive. From what he had learnt, the wharfage was now the same on through goods as those delivered at Lyttelton, viz, 2s Gd per ton. At one time a charge of Is was made for wharfage on through goods, and on goods deliverable in Lyttelton, 2s —the extra Is on Lyttelton goods being supposed to cover the expense of delivery. He understood now that a terminal charge was made in addition to that of haulage and wharfage. He had been led to believe goods delivered at Lyttelton did not pay the terminal charges, and consequently the Christchurch consumers were placed at a very great disadvantage—the delivery in each case costing the Government about the same. This he thought unfair, as, if the people of Christchurch paid terminal and wharfage charges also, they paid more than their fair share. The Secretary for Public Works said it would be as well to put matters straight as they went on. The fact was the Lyttelton people now paid both a wharfage and a haulage charge. Or Thomson remarked that this latter was not a terminal charge. The Secretary for Public Works said the people of Lyttelton were subject to a charge for the extra cost the Government were put to, and it might be either called a terminal or haulage charge. His Honor said the Government would be glad to hear the views of any other member of the deputation, but it could not be expected that a definite answer would be given at once to their request. Immediate, replies would of course be given to any questions asked.

Or Thomson would only observe that the present charge for wharfage was exceedingly high, and would not be more even if there were no railway. He maintained that the wharf was as necessary to the railway as the railway was to the wharf, and in computing charges this should be taken into consideration, and a portion of the expense of working the wharf should be borne by the railway. In former years, as he had mentioned before, a charge of 2s for wharfage was made on Lyttelton goods, and Is on through goods. Now the latter was raised to 2s, with terminal and haulage charges besides. The Secretary for Public Works considered that the two shillings charged at Lyttelton in former years was an excessive charge on the people there, Christchurch deriving a benefit without having any of the trouble. Or Wood said they did not know what extra trouble or expense the Government were put to in removing the coals now, compared with former years, but what the deputation did know was the extra price which fell very heavily on the Christchurch people, and what they desired was that the Government should, if possible, see their way to make a reduction in some form. The Provincial Secretary thought it would be as well to at once clear up a misapprehension which existed in the minds of the deputation, regarding the present charges on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line. The Mayor had said that it was believed why those charges were made on that line was because the branch lines were not paying, and as it was probable his remarks would be made public, it was necessary they should be directly contradicted. It was not the case as had been represented to his Worship, and the reason why the increased charges had been made was because of the increased expenses in working the coals than formerly. The Secretary for Public Works said another reason why the charges had to be increased was to pay interest and sinking fund on the £IOO,OOO loan raised for the construction of the Gladstone pier. This had been provided for in the Bill brought up, and as the gross expenses in working this traffic hitherto had been in excess of the income derived, it had been found necessary to increase the charges to leave a margin to provide for payment of the interest. With reference to the remark made by Cr Thomson that at one time no charge was made for stacking coal at Christchurch, he would add that this work had placed the Government at a very heavy expense, and besides keeping the trucks full and causing extra labor, a cry was made by the public that they were kept waiting for the trucks. The increased charges had been found to work satisfactorily, and were besides a matter of necessity. Cr Thomson said that at the time he alluded to the railway discharged the coals on to the heaps ; but when the merchants required the heaps so be trimmed, they had to pay an extra charge. The Provincial Secretary had only desired that the remark made by the Mayor as to the working of the branch lines should not go forth uncontradicted. His Honor said the representations made by the deputation would have the full consideration of the Government, and an answer would be returned as soon as possible. Perhaps he might suggest that a deputation to another quarter might be found beneficial —he meant the coal merchants. [Laughter.] The Mayor said there was one small matter he desired to mention. He had been told that the Government had a large reserve, consisting mostly of boulders, and a proprietor of a stone-breaking machine desired to know whether the Government would he willing to lease this reserve to a private individual. The boulders when broken made excellent road metal, and with the City Council the question of good road metal was a very anxious one. He did not know which reserve had been alluded to, but he had been told it was about seven miles from town, in the direction of Burnham. The Provincial Secretary said enquiries would be made, and the matter duly considered. His Worship thanked the Government for the courtesy which he and tfc,e other members of the Council had received, and the deputation withdrew.