CARRIAGE OF COAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1867, 22 August 1918, Page 3

CARRIAGE OF COAL.

PROPOSED LOCAL BODY ENTERPRISE. In accordance with notice, the Mayor of Palmerston North moved the following motion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Palmerston North Borough Council: “That, owing to increase in the cost of coal and facilities for obtaining same, a conference of local bodies be held to consider the question of purchasing a boat for the purpose of conveying coal cheaper, and for the benefit of citizens and settlers.” In speaking to the motion, 3lr Nash stated that there had been a lot said about the high prices charged for coal by the borough, but he considered the prices satisfactory when the question of costs and charges were taken into account, and lie quoted figures to show war prices and pre-war prices, and the small return which the Council was receiving. Continuing, the Mayor said that questions of municipalising such necessities as milk and fish had cropped up before, hut the Council would not undertake them. One of their greatest'requirements now was coal, and he considered a. conference of local bodies should he called to go into the purchase of a steamer for the carriage of coal For the benefit of the town and district. The district might take in Kairanga, Feilding, Levin, Foxton, Shannon, Horowhenua County, Woodville, Paliiatua, etc. A boa I of 500 ions might be purchased for £IO,OOO, and if it averaged a trip a week to the West Coast it would he a boon to the district, and work up a connection and be payable before long. Of course, Foxton would be their port, and only a small portion of the Manawatu wanted dredging to allow boats of 10ft or 12ft draft to enter, and in a considerable portion of the river there was 20ft to 22ft of water. The Harbour Board was already arranging to get a dredge. In a year it was estimated the steamer would handle 20,000 tons of coal, which would give a good return, but, they could in time reckon on getting a good deal of return cargo. A ship at £IO,OOO at 6 per cent, would cost £6OO per year interest, and there was upkeep, insurance, and other charges, hut there was no reason why it should not pay. Coal carriage before the war was 5s 0d per ton; now it was more than double that, hut it was pretty certain it would not go hack to the prewar rate. There was also no reason why the steamer could not be employed in the carriage of local bodies’ supplies to this district, which in itself would be a big item and mean revenue, and would,"be a matter of much consideration to local bodies. It might not he possible to get a boat just now, and he did not think they could, hut the Government here and at Home wero getting ready for demobilisation and business after the war, and the Borough Council should do the same. If the Council, could do something, on these lines for the benefit of the people of this district, then it should do it. If the conference was arranged and the scheme outlined were brought about, ho thought that the Council would he able to claim that it had accomplished something of which it hud reason to lie proud. Cr Bennett seconded the motion, hut lie thought the Mayor was a long way too low in his estimate of the cost of a steamer. Cr (Tabh considered tin* scheme too vague and problematical. The suggested size of the boat was too small, to work Wellington and too large for Foxton, and be believed ilu* Foxton Harbour Board could not get a dredge at the present time. He was of, opinion that a boat of 500 tons would bring enough coal in a month to serve this district for a, whole year. He bad practical experience in the steamship line, and knew the difficulties, and it was a well-known fact that a 1,000-ton boat was cheaper to run than a small one. Cr O'Reilly said he thought the scheme in the right direction, and worthy of support. Cr Canton said the proposal had a good lot to recommend it. The motion was carried, and the Mayor and Crs Bennett and Spooner were appointed delegates to attend the conference of local bodies.