SHIPPING AND WHARFAGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 476, 4 September 1909, Page 2

SHIPPING AND WHARFAGES.

SiiinriNr. has been very brisk at the local port during the present week and up to yesterday 1576 tons of coal had been landed alongside the wharf. In fact last mouth’s shipping has been exceptionally good. On Monday of this week the s.s. Kennedy arrived with a cargo of 177 tons 6 cwt, Himatangi 179 tons 9 cwt, Moa 118 tons 7 cwt ; Tuesday — Alexander 141 tons, Waverley 104 tons ; Wednesday Kapiti 158 tons; Thursday—Waimea 195 tons ; Friday—Moa 120 tons, Wairau 96 tons, Kennedy 179 tons, Putiki 210 tons, Himatangi 198 tons. The Queen of the South berthed on Tuesday with 154 tons of general cargo. Yesterday five boats were alongside the wharf and as there is only berthing accommodation for three that, is lor discharging purposes, it will be seen how inadequate the present wharfage is. It is not an uncommon sight to see five boats alongside and such congested shipping means a serious loss of time and consequent loss of money to shipping companies and others. As is well-known the wharf, with its revenue, is controlled by the Railway Department, and the profits go to swell the working railways, while the Harbour Board, constituted as it is and represented by capable administrators, are powerless to effect needed improvements because the paw of the Government covers the only adequate source of revenue. The port feeds the railways in a dual capacity, yet in return the department does practically nothing to improve the present unsatisfactory state of things. It takes all and gives back nothing. If the wharfages were handed over to the Board it would enable that body to effect such improvements to the port as to practically double the present shipping. It will therefore be seen that what the Railway Department would lose on the one hand in wharfages could almost be made up on the other hand in extra haulage. That the Railway Department should be allowed to continue to handle the wharfages a most iniquitous and we believe, if probed, an illegal proceeding—is nothing short of a public scandal. Until this question of wharfages is settled the Board are powerless, with the funds at their command, to improve matters. It must be clearly understood that our criticism now or on previous occasions does not in any way refer to or reflect on local administration, as a more obliging and painstaking harbourmaster-stationmaster than Mr Rodie or a more efficient staff it would be difficult to find. Our dig is at the short-sighted and portdamaging policy of the Railway Department.