TRADE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1924, Page 4

TRADE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

natural and inevitable. Air S. !•'. wiiileonibe, "f Bell.'k"owes. |' 1 ! t< ■• lilt- utiles as Inflows io the editor of the "(Atago Daily Times": Sir. 1 nortec from your issue of the Mill, in-taut that Wellington is waking up io the fact that .she is losing ihe M'esl, Coast trade, v. anterhury gaining it. an., the ( handier ol Commerce is di-eussing ways of retaining such trade. The Chamber will find that, whatever stepi it lakes, the attempt will he Intile, for file Dade miisl take ilimtural trend, always provided, ol course, that, the Railway Department works Die traffic in a business-like and common-sense way, and that the Gnve: enieiif drops the iiliotie and unfair course of mailing u double tran-aeiion of the Otira limnel portion. the unconvincing: excuse being that the I’lthlie Works Department lias not yet handed eici that part, and the two Hepaitnionls are eoneenied in the working, All trade taking the sea route is subject to at least two wharfage charges sometimes to three, and always to two ext:a handlings, sometime, to three or more, with consequent go-ally in creased expense, loss of time, d' man;i;, 1 depreciation to coal, timber or whatever the class ol traffic mat' be. Another important tiling in favour ol the tunnel route is this; coal and timI. -i- shipped go in Luge quantities, ni.iurallv tln-v must. A Christchurch timber or coal merchant has to lake a three week ' or a meal h's su| ply ai a Dnc. Duly a short time is allowed in ('liristeliurt.il to discharge ihe trucks, am- consignee- have to employ a he i i ext iii < art - and men to bundle ihe .; :11fin ;i given Luc. Ihe same Li’allie coming i hmugh tlm i nniiel n i legukiled to the mt"'i '‘.-'.id ••' dull.', c • eul. and handled by lb - "'binary Mali There are onlv two handlings no V, Tillage charges, no agents, no delays , . d. image through extra ha cdliic.. D i, practically Ito in -aui-adl er mine Io meveliant or eon-uu’er. Air Leigh Hunl, at tic me-.'i iug of file Wellinglon Chambei ol ( Mincer; r, staled that sene Greynionth iirms weie -'ill slamieh to Mellingiou. and Me-t----port generally was -launch. 'll in (DcVnieuih who -nil use Wellington lent be eonneeieil Willi l lie -hipping, and Westport naturally is still lor. ed to ship because sue is not yet linked through to Canterbury. Directly the rail- are linked up Gy the opening of the line through the Duller Gorge the majority ol the Westport Dalle will likewise pass through the Otira tunnel. Wellington must bow gracefully to the inevitable and cease- outwardly at least from envying Canterbury.