Greymouth Harbor Charges
BLACKBALL COAL COMPANY’S
PROTEST
Recently the Greymouth Harbour Board increased its charges to skippers. Mr J. Steer, meat contractor, is chairman of the Board, and supported the increased harbour dues. Subsequently Mr Steer was written to by Mr Arnnud MeKellar, secretary of the Blackball Coal Company, stating that the company .as mine-owners and ship-ownels, were penalised by the additional charges by the Harbour Board, and so long as the charges existed at the present high rate, the company could not support any member of that Board who supported such charges, and new arrangements would be inafle regarding supplies of meat to the company’s steamers.
Mr Steer replied protesting that the business of the Harbour Board bad nothin.; to do with the Mawhera Meat Company. which had supplied meat to the Blackball steamers for over 25 years and protesting against a business man being penalised for carrying out what lie considered to be his public duty. Surely Mr McKellar did not .suggest that public men should be influenced by any threat of boycott or victimisation. The finnenial position of the Board made an increased tariff necessary, and the anomalities discovered would be given early consideration. The transfer of the Company’s meat trade did not weigh with him (Mr Steer) in his endeavour to carry out his public duties fearlessly. Mr McKellar replied that he considered that shipping companies were not getting a fair deal, and coal was being forced to bear too high a proportion of the charges. His first letter was not intended to influence Mr Steer, and the letter would be withdrawn. i Mr Steer incidentally states that the meat contract has not been restored. At the last meeting of the Harbour Board the correspondence was read and indignation expressed. It was unanimously agreed to protest against the letters from Mr McKellnr. and to send copies of the correspondence to the Acting-Prime Minister, the Minister of Mines, and the Blackball Coal Company.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19210610.2.32
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Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1921, Page 4
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326Greymouth Harbor Charges Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1921, Page 4
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