FOXTON WHARF CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 16, 17 October 1879, Page 2

FOXTON WHARF CHARGES.

A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held at tho Athemeum on Tuesday last, at 2 p.m. Present — Messrs Gray (Chairman), Thynna, and Russell. It was determined to hold over the ordinary business until next meetinsr. Mr Rotheram, General Manager of tho Patea-Manawatu Railway, attended for the I purpose of hearing the opinions of the Board upon the wharf charges, a complaint regarding their excessive and vexatious natui-e having been forwarded to the Government. Air Thyime said he understood a new schediile of charges was about to be issued. Fie therefore thought it would bo fa>- better if, instead of discussing charges about to be altered, they were to exchange views with the Manager upon the revised tariff. Mr Rotheram said he had not a copy with him. Also, he had been instructed to report upon the complaint made, which referred especially to timber. The timber charges under the new tariff would be as at present, — viz., whitej pine, Id per hundred j other kinds, 3d, with a similar amount for each handling. Mr Russell said pnnple strongly objected to the 3'l for handling. He had made caro ful enquiry as to tho cost, and learned from a firm of sawmillers that two men could handle from twelve to fifteen thousand feet per day of 8 hours, which would at 3d per hundred p:iy wages at the rate of from los to 18s per duy, thus leaving an enormous profit to the Railway De tartment. .Mr Rothera'ii denied such was the case. Upon some kinds of timber the railway did make up a prolit, but not on others. Mr Thynue said .V essrs Liddeil and Jonson had each employed men to do the work, and though they received less than 3d they declared it had paid thorn handsomelj'. Mr Rotheram asked why tho millownera did not make a similar arrangement now, and relieve the railway of all handling. The Chairman replied that the reaum was because there was not sufficient timber coming down to require it. Mr Russell thought tho question a very dimple one. — Owing to the lack of proper ascommodation, the railway officials did not take tho timber to the wharf. They emptied it out in the yard, charging 3d, and then took it down to the ship's side, charging another 3d for putting it on the trucks* Ought the Government to charge this amount, when it was their own fault that double handling was required P Whilst the railway was doing bo well, the Uovernment would suffer financially by carrying out the much-needed extension of the wharf, which would be postponed for ever. Mr P»other-m understood the Board wished the timber placed alongside the vessel with a charge of 3d for only one handling. Mr Thynne said that »vas tho wish of the Board. Mr Kotherara asked the Board whut room should be allowed at the wharf to each mill for stacking the timber. There were now 20 mills at work in Manawatu, and they must either ship or shut up. If a privilege were granted to one, the same must be offered to all. Even roam for 2000 feet for each mill would occupy a considerable space. Mr Thynne said the sleepers now lying in the yurd took up room equal to about 4')o,OOOfeet of timber. He thought that when the deviation was made, sufficient space should be allowed between the rails and the edge to admit of the timber being stacked. Mr Rotheram agreed with this, and would endeavour to secure that that should be arranged for. He would just say that if the sawmillers took his advice they would never allow a stick of timber to leave their yarda until the vessel it was to be exported

by was actuolly ready for it. Such a method woul 1 save all handling, as it would be put from tho trucks into the ship, and only the 3d wharfage would be charged. A captain and four men could easily load 18,000 feet per day. Mr Thynne said these remarks would apply to sailing vossels, but not to steamers, which sometimes did not arrive when expected. He would now refer to the great scarcity of labour. On a recent occasion when three steamers were at the wharf, only five men wero employed in connection with the whole of the work. This was a common complaint, as there wore not sufficient men to get through the work. He understood the reason men could not be obtained was because they were paid only once each month. Casual hands should be paid directly their work was finished. Mr Rotheram asked Mr Thynne if he was sure the facts were as stated. Air Thynne replied that he was. Mr Russell said he had asked one of the men why co much difficulty was experienced in obtaining laborers, and had been told precisely what Mr Thynne asserted, viz., that the reason was because men who were staying in the place only for a day or two could not afford to wait till the end of the month for their money. Mr Rotheram said the man who had said so/ told a deliberate lie. The officials al • j/ays had power to send a voucher through, And obtain money it the end of the week. / Mr Thynne was happy to hear it-, and hoped Mr Rotheram would inform the officials what he had just told the Uoard. He knew for a fact that Mr Gibson had repeatedly advancpd money out of his own pocket, to pay men, so as to get the work done. He complained that the clerks were not always in the office. For instance, one spent a great deal of time in the blacksmith's shop, acting as a hammerman. This wns no doubt very good exercise for the official referred to, but it wa<? decidedly unpleasant for business people to be compelled to hunt all over the premises for a clerk. Mr Kothcram said these remarks dealt with internal management, which he thought should be left alone. Mr Thynne replied that where internal management caused inconvenience, trouble, ond waste of time to the public, they had a perfi?ct right to complain of it. Mr Rotheram said the stationmaster was always in his office, and would give full information at all times upon auy subject connected with the railway, as he kept the book 3. He added that the idea that he was antagonistic to Foxton was incorrect. It would be a saving to the railway if all the timber came to Foxton, instead of going to Wanganui, as from Tialcombe to Wanganui the engines burned 23ilbs of coal per mile, whereas from Halcombe (o Foxton they consumed only 13lbs per mile. Mr Thynno said the complaint was that whilst .Mr Rotheram did so much for Wanganui he did so little for Foxton. M r Rotheram said he believed it was his duty to work the line economically, and he would do so, as far as he was able. Mr Thynne asked if Mr Rotheram would give the Board some idea as to the charges under the new tariff. Mr Hotheram, said, speaking from memory, he thought they would be as follows : — Flour, Is per ton ; coal (imported), Is— native, 6d ; fencing wire, 6d; agricultural produce, Is 6d ; general merchandise, 2s ; bricks, 3d per hundred ; receiving and delivering, Is. Ho thought the whole fair and liberal. Mr Russell thought it absurd that Foxton traders, although resident'on the spot, and possessing all the appliances to enable them to take their goods to or from the vessel's side, should bo compelled to pay Is for receiving and delivering their goods, Bimply because it was a railway wharf. Mr Kotherara roplied that any person could cart his stuff down to the wharf, and use the trolley to run it to the ship's Bide, but ihe whole responsibility would rest upou himself, and not on the wharf officials, he would ask what plan the Board would suggest by which the wharf could be altered. Mr Russell said the resolution asked the Government to alter the wharf. It was to them the people looked. Mr Thynne said of courso the vails could be protected on each side, enabling carts to go down the wharf, bit even^if they did so, the wharf officials would complain at tho annoyance. He fully agreed that the wharf should be made directly accessible to Foxton traders, but thought the present structure could not be made so. Mr Gray referred to the aunoyanae of passengers being bailed up for 6d wharfage on carpet bags and small parcels. ■••;;■ Mr Rotheram was not aware that BU,ch a charge was made, but promised to look into the matter. The conference then closed, and the Board adjourned.