PILOTAGE CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3980, 6 August 1929, Page 3

PILOTAGE CHARGES.

SHIPPING AGENT ASKS FOR REDUCTION. At yesterday’s meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board, Messrs G. V. Fraser and Co., agents for the 's.s. Himatangi, wrote asking the Board to make a reduction in its pilotage charges or amend its regulation dealing therewith (paragraph 52) so that the Board might be permitted to levy a reasonable fee as a maximum charge per month as against regular traders to the port. The suggestion was made that the" charge should he calculated in the same manner as berthage fees (see paragraph 11), are computed and that the maximum charge for .pilotage be not more than £3 10/-. The company pointed out that the existing charges penalised ships of large tonnage visiting Foxton and consequently, was not on the best interests of the port. The ban- and river were diffljcult to work and vessels trading here were often compelled to come in with light loads. In addition to the above, ,tke Boai’d made an extra levy of £1 10/- for flighting, against all vessels working the port after dark. The secretary read the by-law which provided for a charge of 6d per ton on the registered tonnage of all vessels visiting the port. Mr. PeiTeau, in support of the letter, said that the s.s. Himatangi was being penalised because the vessel was unable to work the port fully loaded, except at odd times. Whether fully loaded or not the vessel had to pay on its registered tonnage. The Board had not done anything to improve the river or otherwise encourage shipping to the port and it was hardly fair that the full charge should be imposed.

' The chairman: If the amendment is made our revenue will be (reduced accordingly. Mr. Perreau: We are extracting revenue we are not entitled to. Mr. Nash: I don’t agree. Haven’t we already discussed improvements to the Wharf and river? Mr. Blenkhorn asked how the local .charges compared with other ports, but the secretary was unable to supply the information. The chairman said he did not see that it w T as the fault of the river that the boat could not work the port fully loaded. The secretary said the Shipping Company suggested that the payment should be reduced’to £3 10/per visit. This was more than the • s.s. Kennedy paid. The Kennedy’s registered tonnage was 131 tons as against' the Hiniatangi’s 224 tons. Mr. Blenkhorn said as far as he

could see charge had nothing to do with cargo. The charge was for pilotage and there was a. good deal of responsibility about that. Mr. Pcrreau: If we do as other ports do, clean the river and make it safe for navigation the vessel could carry the full tonnage and everything would he all right. As it is it would pay the owners of the s.s. Himatangi to trade with ports where deep water was obtainable. The Board was certainly not encouraging shipping.

Mr. Nash: If the Board does nothing that may be so, but we have signified our intention of carrying cut improvements if possible, and we must have our fees to carry on. On the suggestion of the chairman it was decided ito obtain the rates charged by other ports and to submit them to the next meeting when the matter will be dualised.