TURUA WHARF.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4671, 7 March 1924, Page 1

TURUA WHARF.

question of wharfinger.

PROPOSITION WANTED BY BOAIRD

During the tour of the members n£ the Thames Harbour Board on Wednesday a call was made at Turua to discuss several important matters. Owing to the short notice given few business men of Turua could be present.

Mr D. G. McMillan, in opening the discussion, said that the ouestion or the appointment of a permanent wharfinger should be settled. He had advocated this at the meeting of the board, the members of which desired to hear the views of the people of Turua.

Mr J. E. Green, secretary of the Hnuraki Plains Dairy Co., Ltd., explained that he had no authority to speak on behalf of his company, but the directors had often spoken of the advantage of having a permanent wharfinger who would check cargo into and out of the wharf shed. He spoke of the loss sustained by shippers from having goods siolen, and said that the shipping company would accept no responsibility, contending that as there was no one in charge of the wharf Turua was in the same position as other places where goods were landed on the river bank. The directors of the dairy company were of the opinion that it would pay better to pay a small charge than to put up with the constantly-recurring loss ■ es. They would be very pleased indeed co see a man employed permanently. Mr McMillan asked if the shipping company had been approached. Mr Green replied that some time ago the Northern Steamship Company had said that if the trade of the port increased to a sufficient extent one of its officials would be stationed’at Turuq.

The dairy companiy, continued Mr Green, represented about 50 settleis in and around Turua, and was prepared to pay a small charge for the .services of a wharfinger, provided the charge was not too high. Freights and charges at present were very high compared with those on the Plako River, where there was no wharfage or improvement tax. Personally, he thought it would be worth a small .sum a ton for the services of a permanent man. Some provision would have to be made to make an equitable charge on small packages. Mr S- Laughlin thought the shipping company would contribute towards the cost of a caretaker if asked. The Harbour Board should also contribute, and perhaps the settlers also. Mr J. T. Davies, manager for Messrs Bagnall Bros., Ltd., stated that on numerous occasions the Harbour Board had been asked to give a statement of the amount of revenue derived from the Turua wharf to see if the payment of a wharfinger by the board was warranted. The present charge of 2s 6d per ton wharfage and Is improvement tax was a big amount to pay, and any increase would not be justified, nor would it be good business for the board, considering the competition of the other river. The harbour board chairman, Mr R Coulter, said that the board understood the people of Turua would put a proposition before it. This had not been done, so the board could not be blamed for not having moved in the matter. Mr Davies said that the board had ignored the requests for a financial statement. It would not have been good business to have made an offer without knowing the facts. This was supported by Mr McMillan, who said that the old board had shelved the matter many times. Mr Coulter said that the figures for 1923 were not yet completed. Mr Davies pointed out that the present board had promised a deputation some months ago to get out the figures.

The chairman denied that statement, as he knew it would have been impossible to prepare the figures.

Mr McMillan said the settlers felt that they were entitled to the services of a wharfinger, considering the amount of revenue the hoard derived from the wharf.

Mr Coulter said that nothing could be done at present, but he wished the people of Turua to understand that the board was out to help them. No attempt would be made to load them, for he did not think the Turua people should pay more, He thought the shipping company would make a contribution if approached. Mr Wagstaff said that any proposition from Turua would be considered by the hoard.