THE PORT OF ENTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 15, 22 October 1880, Page 2

THE PORT OF ENTRY.

« The importance of Foxton being continued as a port of entiy is every day becoming more apparent, as the advantages presented by its existence as such are more widely known. As each week goes past, the Collector of Customs almost invariably receives from the inland districts invoices of goods imported direct from other countries, and to be warehoused or cleared as the case may be at Foxtou. During the past few days several such from Palmerston have been received at Foxton, one comprising some large cases of goods direct fi'om London, and the other a case of considerable value from Victoria. Facts like these prove the truth of our previous assertion, that as the advantages afforded by Foxton as a Customs port become more widely known, they will be taken advantage of to an increased degree. It is utterly unfair to adopt the basis of the Government, and compare the trade at a new port like Foxton with that at places which have been in existence as many years as this place has been months. Therefore the request that has been made to allow Foxton to continue as a port until the end of the financial year, would if granted be a just means of testing whether the trade of the port will justify the retention of the Customs Officer at Manawatu. When it is considered that Foxton has about 8,000 people at its back, it is absurd to say that no necessity exists for its retention as a port of entry. The trade is there, and it simply needs a short period to divert it into its natural channel.