CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 405, 29 September 1875, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A special meeting of the committee was held yesterday, at 2.30 p.m., to consider the present rates of lighterage, &c. Mr W. H. Lane occupied the chair, and the following members were present —Messrs Inglis, Nathan, Turner, Cunningham, Coates, Aynsley, G. Stead, Connal. Mr W. H. Lane, chairman of the Chamber, said that the meeting had been originally called for the 14th inst, but had lapsed for want of a quorum. He, however, had thought the subject of so much importance that he had called a special meeting of the committee as chairman to consider the question. As they were aware, the matter for discussion was the present rates of lighterage, wharfage, haulage, craneage, and railway Mr Stead said there was no question that the increase was looked upon as most oppressive, as in the case of wharfage they were now charged 2s 6d instead of Is per ton. In Dunedin the cost of grain being carried over the Otago railways from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, including wharfage, was 3s per ton, as against 7s 6d per ton, including wharfage rates from Lyttelton to Christchurch, or 150 per cent higher than the rate in Otago, while the distance from Port Chalmers to Dunedin was eight miles, and that from Christchurch to Lyttelton somewhere about six. This, he would point out, acted in an almost prohibitory manner against the Christchurch merchants competing with Dunedin for outside trade. The excuse given by the Government for this was that they had been losing while the rate was fixed at Is; but he would desire to paint out that the lessee of the wharf, though at the same time paying a rental, apparently did not lose money, as he kept it on, while the Government, who paid no rental, made out that they were losing by the Is per ton. As to craneage charges, he opposed them on the ground that it was a decided gain to the Government to use the cranes so as to get the vessels quickly away, and therefore it was unfair to charge importers and exporters of goods with what was a benefit to the Government. He did not know what was the best course to be taken; but he thought the Chamber of Commerce should at any rate make a representation to the Government to reduce the rates.

Mr Nathan quite agreed with the last speaker. It seemed to him that, looking to the difference in cost between the wharfage and railway rates, pointed either to the fact that their railways were expensively or inefficiently managed, or the Government wished to make a large profit out of the short line between Lyttelton and Christchurch. The conduct of the present Government appeared to be to charge the cost of interest and sinking fund for the construction of the tunnel on to this short line, which was manifestly unfair, as the public would be quite willing to see this charged upon all the lines. Another point was that it might be the policy of the present Government to so swell the returns of the railways as to enhance their value, before handing them over to the General Government. He did not know that this was the case, but it looked very like it. In Otago the convenience of the public was studied by the goods being taken charge of by the Government and delivered to the importer at his door, and further than this, all goods for Otago were all sent forward to Dunedin, including goods for Port Chalmers, which were sent back again, instead of, as in the Port of Lyttelton, the goods being sorted out, involving large storage accommodation there, which would perhaps account for the increased rates put upon them. He thought i that it would be better for the Government to adopt this cour e, which had been found to work more economically in Otago. The cost had now been increased here to 3s a ton on general merchandise, which really meant 6s per ton, as they had to pay 3s each way, thus placing almost prohibitive restrictions on the coastal trade. He might mention also that a pioneer cargo of coal had found its way into the river Heathcote, and doubtless many more would do so to escape the increased charges made by the railway. Jt would be much better if the committee appointed a sub-committee to confer with the Government on the subject.

In reply to Mr Stead, Mr Turner said that the cost per ton by small craft to Kaiapoi was 10s. Mr Stead pointed out that by rail, including wharfage, &c, the cost per ton to Kaiapoi was 12s 6d, so that there was a balance in favor of the small craft transit of 2s 6d per ton.

Mr Nathan moved—“ That a deputation from this committee wait upon the Government with the view of urging upon their consideration the desirability of reducing the rates of railage, wharfage, &c.” Mr Inglis seconded the motion, and said he generally concurred in the remarks of previous speakers. The Government, in raising the rates, had given as a reason that the rate of Is per ton did not pay, a statement which must at least surprise all of them. In old times, when their appliances were much less than now, they did not pay more than Is 6d per ton. Now that they had got a railway and other improved appliances, the Government were making it rather an undesirable thing than an advantage by imposing rates which were prohibitory in their nature. At the last session of the Provincial Council the Government boldly stated that the branch lines did not pay, and that the loss should be paid by charging increased rates on goods coming into the province, wherever they might be destined for. This, it seemed was a suicidal policy, because it acted most injuriously upon the importers who were seeking to supply outlying districts, and imposed an increased rate upon those engaged in the interprovincial trade, making it necessary for them to supply Christchurch alone. As regarded one item, timber, the increase he would point out was about 80 per cent. Therefore he cordially supported the resolution ;

Mr Connal said that they must be prepared to show the Government some means of working the lines cheaper than now, or they would do no good, as the Government having a large monopoly would be able to say that they would do as they liked. But while he said this he differed from Mr Nathan that it was only on the short line between Lyttelton and Christchurch that this increase was causing discontent. So far south as Temuka those engaged in trade wished to get their goods from Christchurch, but the railway rates to the south bank of the Rangitata were so heavy that they saw very little good in extending the railway. At Oxford, too, the saw millers who had been sending their timber by rail had now returned to the horse teams, and were able to get their goods into Rangiora cheapen thaft by the railway, He felt sure that if

the - lines were let to a contractor or contractors for a terra of years, it would be possible for them to carry goods at a much lower rate than the Government were doing now. This, ho believed, would come before long. The deputation, he felt, would not be able to do much with tue Government beyond representing to them that by the increased rates they were diverting a large amount of goods traffic from the lines. Mr Nathan recommended that the Government should undertake the carrying and lightering, but he did not agree with this, as the Government, who now monopolised the railway, might place the mercantile community in the same strait as they were now with regard to the railway. Besides, if the Government could not manage the railway, they surely could not do this. However, he cordially supported the resolution. Mr Nathan said that Mr Connal seemed to hold the idea that the Government, if taking over the cartage and lighterage as well as the railway carriage, would raise the rates to the mercantile community. But he would desire to point out that the Government would not oppose the popular voice. If they, as he believed they did, expressed the popular feeling, there was no fear of what Mr Connal seemed to dread happening. He thought that the Government undertaking the carrying and lighterage would be of great benefit to the province. It was done by the Provincial Government in Otago, and he did not see why this should not be done here. Mr Inglis quite agreed with Mr Nathan. Unless the Government bought up all the carts and all the lighters they could not get a monopoly. It was not incumbent on the mercantile community to use the carts or lighters of the Government, though it might be convenient for them to do so. Another point connected with this, which might be considered by the committee, was that the lighter owners, when the appliances were far less than now, raised the rates for that reason ; but now that increased appliances had been provided, they raised the rates for that reason, though by those very means tbeir work was expedited. Mr Connal said that this was a matter for private enterprise, and need not go before the Government. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were elected to form a deputation to wait on the Government, viz : Messrs Lane, Inglis, Palmer, Stead, and Nathan. The meeting then adjourned.