WHARFAGE CHARGES.

Patea Mail, 18 September 1880, Page 3

WHARFAGE CHARGES.

Sii>, —Allow me to call attention to a peculiar reading of the Harbor Board byelaws, in connection with the rvharves, adopted by the wharfinger. Clause 15, schedule No. 1, reads, —“All other goods — weight or measurement, in packages, not over one ton, Is Gd per ton.” The words “ or part ” do not appear nor arc they meant to appear, as the bye-laws specify “ at the rate of ” Is 6d per ton. Clause 15, schedule No. 2,reads,“Small packages, or packages landed from a vessel for one consignee, and measuring in the aggregate less than one-third of a ton, shall be charged for as one-third of a ton.” This provides for a rate of Gd on small parcels of goods under one-third of a ton. The wharfinger, however, charges as follows:—ren tons, measuring 400£t, 15s; ten and one-fortieth tons, measuring 401 ft, 16s fid; one-fortieth to thirteenfortieths of a ton, measuring 1 to 13ft, Gd. According to ibis, importers of large lots are placed at a disadvantage with persons fetching driblets. Complaints are universal, but no one seems inclined to test the matter in a court of law single-handed. The wharfinger admits —or rather asserts —that it is merely a flaw in the bye-laws, of which,

as he has leased the wharves at a high figure, he must take advantage, though at the expense of the public ! It is to be hoped that in the interests of all (excepting the wharfinger) exactions like this should be put a stop to. If the Harbor Board are to blame, it rests with that body to set the matter right ■ but if on the other hand—as is much more likely—the wharfinger cannot sustain the selfish construction ho puts on that part of the bye-laws, he should bo compelled to refund all past overcharges and to be just for the future. There is also a disputed question of storage on outward goods which I shall not take up more of your space with at present.—Yours, &e., A Consignee. Patea, 17th Sept., 1880.