STORAGE CHARGES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5054, 19 November 1926, Page 1

STORAGE CHARGES.

PROTEST BY POWER BOARD.

VIEWS OF HARBOUR BOARD.

It will be remembered that at the

Thames Harbour Board’s meeting in

October a letter was received from the

Thames Valley Electric Power Board

complaining that the charges made for storage on certain plant landed on

the Turua wharf were excessive. .. The matter was referred to the Local Committee (states the Thames Star) whose report, received at Tuesday s meeting of the Harbour Board, stated that it had instructed the secretary to reply that it was legally impossible to make any reduction in t'he .account, and, 'further, that it was considered a fair charge in view of the bulky nature of the packages and the desire of the board to discourage the storage of loads calculated to strain the wharf structure.

Mr Edwards put in a plea for consideration for the Thames Valley power Board. The charges made had startled the Power Board, which was contemplating cutting Thames, out in the matter of a trade route;, and procuring all its stock direct from Auckland or by the river wharves. Mr Wagstaff also asked for reconsideration of the position.

Mr Miller said that the board had better consider the position,. as the local committee had . already done so and had no further recommendation to make.

The chairman (Mr W. Danby) said that the board had no legal way of meeting the position. Dues could not be remitted. He would be glad if any member could indicate how relief could be given to' the Power Board.

Mr McCormick thought that spme consideration should be given to local bodies. They did not wish to lose the Power Board's trade.

The chairman said .that it was, the board’s desire to meet all local bodies as far as possible, but the by-laws did not allow any rebate at all, and any refund would have tP’ be made good by the members themselves.' The treasurer said that that w,as the position. The storage was on 10 tons for four months, and totalled £32 6s 6d. The Power Board had been 'fairly treated.

Mr Miller pointed out that the account for storage was, sent month hy month, so the Power Board was quite aware what the charges were.

Mr Edwards thought that an application should be forwarded to the Audit Department for permission to remit a portion of the amount. The chairman said that the suggestion would be opening up a dangerous precedent to the. hoard. Mr Edwards moved that application be made to the Auditor-General for power to remit £l2 off .the account. In seconding, Mr Wagstaff said, it would show the Power Board that the Harbour Board was sincere in the matter.

Mr Coulter said, he was in favour of this, but he resented the utterances of the chairmali of the Power Board that this was not the first time that difficulties had been met with in their dealings with the Thames Harbour Board. Mr Coulter emphatically said that no such difficulties had ever raised between the two boards. The chairman said he was glad Mr Coulter had made reference to the Power Board’s remarks as reported in the Press. As far as he knew there had never been any dispute between the boards. He was glad tor say that the Harbour Board had materially assisted the Power Board by the cheaper landing of poles at Kopu.

Mr McCormick said ’he had never heard that any. unpleasantness had occurred between the boards.. It news to him. The motion was carried.