SHIPPING AT THE PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2537, 1 February 1923, Page 2

SHIPPING AT THE PORT.

CAUSES OF DECREASE. The question of increasing the shipping services to the local was brought before the Foxton Harbour Board at its annual meeting on Tuesday when Mr J. Chrystall asked what was the position in regard to the recent negotiations with a southern shipping company. Mr W. Signal said that the company in question had two big boats available for running to Foxton, but they would, on account of their draught, only be able to come into the port with 60 or 80 tons of cargo at a time. What was first required was that the board should have fuller control of the wharves, and that arrangements in regard to unloading be attended to.

Mr E. R. Ilolben remarked that they must get the railway arrangements affecting the port fixed up. In reply to a question as to why coal was not now largely shipped to Foxton, Mr Signal pointed out that, before the war, when the Railway Department had control of the

wharf, it shipped its supplies through Foxton, but when the board was formed it abolished that practice. It was suggested that the Government’s large importations of coal about the end of the war period also had something to do with the position.

Mr Holben said that the haulage of eoal over the Rimutakas was, needless expense to the Government.

Mr Chrystall concurred, and Mr Holben remarked that they must keep at the Government and continue to demonstrate the saving that would be effected by using the port for this purpose. Mr Signal commented that now ships got no cattie_as back freight as formerly was the case. It was the back freight that used to pay the expenses of ships visiting the port. Nowadays stock went by rail to Wellington and Wanganui direct to the sale yards. The lorries also came into the question, and in transit competition more than held their own. He suggested that a special charge should lie put on them, since they deprive the Government railways and port of revenue and did a considerable amount of damage to the roads.

Mr Holben: They cannot be competed with, it is stated, over distances up to 90 miles.

Mr Signal: Why not put in toll gates?

This suggestion caused some discussion, Mr Signal pointing out that the small farmers along the road Ptiid heavy taxes and the lorries cut up the highways by their heavy tiaffic, but no action was taken.