THE FOXTON PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1986, 5 June 1919, Page 3

THE FOXTON PORT.

QUESTION OF PURCHASE OF STEAMER. LOCAL BODIES CONSIDER THE MATTER. A meeting of considerable importance to the district took place at Palmerston North on Monday afternoon. It was a meeting of representatives of local bodies to consider the question of the purchase of a steamer to bring coal to Foxton for distribution to the district, and incidentally the inception of a line of steamers to promote trade to the port of Foxton. There was a large attendance of delegates, the following being present: —Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P.

(chairman), Crs. J. Hodgens, S. R. Lancaster, E. H. Crabb, L. R. Bryant, T. R. Plodder (Palmerston N. Borough Council), P. J. Hennessy (chairman Foxton Harbour Board),

J. Chrystall (Mayor of Foxton), J. A. Linklater, D. Collis, M, A. Moody (Kairanga County Council), M. A. Eliott (Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce), Hillier • (Shannon Borough Council), M. Perreau (Foxton Chamber of Commerce), E, Wood, M. J. Kennedy, and S. Jiekell. LACK OF SHIPPING.

The Chairman voiced his pleasure at seeing so large an attendance of delegates. He read an apology from Mr Matheson, Mayor of Levin, who wrote that the object of the meeting did not interest his Council, as coal could be brought to Levin cheaper by rail than through the port of Foxton.

Addressing - the meeting, Mr Nash said that a short time ago he had brought up the question of local authorities considering the purchase of a steamer for the port of Foxton. The reason for doing this was on account oi the inconvenience m regard to the carrying of coal Quite recently the Queen of the South had been wrecked, leaving the port of Foxton without a boat at all. He understood a boat had arrived there the previous day.

A member; The Blenheim. Mr Hennessy: Two boats in a nontb.

Continuing, the speaker considered that the position was'such that they should do something. He quite well knew that it was not an opportune time to buy a steamer on account of the very high prices ruling for vessels. Speaking on behalf of the Borough Council, the Chairman quoted ligures showing the increase in freights on coal. Prior to the war the cost of Newcastle coal was £1 2s 0d per tun, while freight and wharfage brought it to £1 17s 5d to land in Palmerston North. Today the cost was £3 5s (id. V estport coal at that time was £1 Is 10 d, to-day £2, State £1 Os (id prewar against £2 4s 3d to-day. Better freights had been ottered in goods for the South Island, with the result that ships had been transferred to that trade. Prior to the war it cost to firing coal to Wellington 5s (id per ton, and to Foxton 10s (id. The charge to-day was 10s 0d for Wellington and 16s to Foxton. In his opinion it was time some action was taken in the mutter lo benefit not only the port of Foxton, but Die whole district, and Dial time had now arrived —when ■ they should consider the question of purchasing a steamer if possible. One gentleman bad, on learning of (he project, offered £SOO towards (ho purchase. A vessel suitable fur (he purpose would cost from £B,OOO to £IO,OOO, a large sum at the present time, but which they could not avoid. The speaker then proceeded to say that when the Foxton Harbour Board bad purchased a dredge the Board eould eater for vessels of a deeper draught than at present. “I have no concrete proposal to put before the meeting, but I think we should set up a sub-committee to go into the question and bring down a comprehensive report for a further meeting,” said the Chairman. “It is our duty to make the port of Foxton a payable proposition, so vitally necessary is it. At the present time we are losing money on the port. Once we had a good number of boats, but now they go elsewhere. We should go ahead and make the port what it should bo — one of the best in New Zealand.” “VALUABLE WATERWAY UNUSED.”

Mr Hennessy reminded the meeting of the battle they had to secure the wharf. Prior to the war they had a wharfage revenue of £2,300 a year, and now it was £I,OOO. Instead of the pilotages bringing them in a handsome profit, as was the ease nine years ago, they were now worth little, owing to the very few boats which entered the port at present. Boats which used to visit the port were now diverted to Lyttelton and other ports, where they got 17s 6d per ton freight. It was a ease of prohibitive freights that had caused the falling off in shipping to Foxton. The time had arrived for local bodies to move. The latter could vend the coal to consumers after taking what they required for themselves. They could provide for expenses, and the matter of profit need not enter into the question. The position at present was that boats which previously entered the port at 10s per ton would not come now for Ids per ton. He had worked it out that 50,000 tons of coal entered this district for private consumption. For easy comparison he would estimate the difference between the pre-war freight and that charged at present at 5s per ton, and on an estimated consumption of 50,000 tons annually this would mean a difference of £12,500 —sufficient to buy a boat. Mr Hennessy said that he would

like to see some action taken in the matter. As to a ship, lie thought it quite possible to get plenty of boats. His idea of meeting the cost was contribution from each local body pro rata, according to its consumption of coal. The cost, in his opinion, would be infinitesimal to each local body when compared with the advantages to bo derived. “I should like, in the interests of the district, and in the interests of the Board, to see the matter given lengthy discussion and serious thought. It is for us to make use of our -waterways, which is a valuable one,” concluded the speaker. Cr. Lancaster: Have local bodies power to expend Inoney in such a direction?

The Chairman; No; I am afraid not.

Mr Chrystall said the present position warranted the meeting. It would mean over £IOO a year to Foxton Borough Council to get coal by steamer. He did not quite think that they should purchase a steamer, and thought that they should charter a steamer, as smaller shipping companies did from the larger ones. He could not commit 'the Foxton Borough Council, but would like to sec the matter progress. SHORTAGE OF COAL PRODUCTION,

Cr. E. H. Crabb said the present position was not a shortage of distribution of coal, but a shortage of production. Therefore, if they had forty steamers a month coming up to Foxton the position would not be so very much alleviated. The gas question was a different matter from household coal. A steamer of 200 tons could make a profitable trade bringing coal down the const, but the speaker questioned whether a boat going to a bar harbour like

Westport would pay unless it had back loading. It would require a boat of 400 tons to do so. The speaker made reference to only one boat, the Tawera, having come hack into the mosquito Heel. During the past few years quite a large number had been wrecked or lost. No steamer would pay if run for coal only, as coal was a seasonable article. They would require merchandise trade as well to make a boat pay. In his opinion the people of the district should go forward to establish a line of steamers to put Foxton on the map. At the present time the port was not. He favoured setting up a committee to go into the whole question, and report to,a later meeting.

Mr ,T. Linklatcr pointed out the asset Die district had in (he port of Foxton, and lie considered they should go ahead and see that their port was utilised. He favoured setting up a committee to go into (he matter.

Mr M. I’crmiu said (hat in Foxtail they regarded the loss of the Queen of the South much as they regarded the loss of a prominent citizen. The Foxton Chamber of Commerce would support (he matter.

THE MOTION CARRIED

The Chairman then moved: “That a committee be set up to bring down a report on the whole question, either to arrange for .shipping or the purchase of a steamer, at a meeting to be held at an early date; the committee to comprise the Mayor of Foxton (Mr Chrystall), Mr Hcnnessy (chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board), Messrs Bock, Crabb, Linklatcr, Eliott, and the mover.

Mr Hodder seconded the motion, which was carried, and the meeting then adjourned.