N.Z. PORT CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1923, Page 1

N.Z. PORT CHARGES

MR M IT! 11 MIL R Ill’Ll Li 5 . AYFLLIXOTOX, Aug. L">. In reply to the cable comment on the shipping i'll a rites in New Zealand, At, M it'-holl. Chairman of the Harbour Board, says the .'harm's :.i the main port-, compare i'avourahly with ti.ose o. other countries. They , all s o-u of facilities hut instead of making full use of them the shipping <'ompatties choose to send their slops intuit, the coast piekin.it up oargo here aiul there. This is what eats up the money ami to cover it a flat rate is charged ■m-aia-t the main ports. lie quotes .hips as making ten to 1-1 calls before departure, spending weeks on toe O’st and charging it up to freight. ~,,i , is ]- g ; s it anv wonder freights are mh. This policy is encouraging poo -u e to sink money in harbour works ill’ round the coast and building ports fa- ; p excess of the requirements of a little m-er a million of population. The trade „f places like Auckland and Wellington could he increased several times over, without any advance in overhead charges. If the shipping companies want the port charges reduced let them charge the freights from each port proportionate to the cost of handling. Another authority points out that pillage is free in At ellington.