FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Shannon News, 30 March 1928, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Fox ion ’Harbour Board was held in the Board’s office/on Monday. Mr ,J. Linklatei, M.P. (chairman), presided, and there were also present: Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., E. E, B. Holben, II Berry; M. Mortensen, 'ahd the seerc ary (Mr E. Rang heuca). , . • ■ The Chairman reported oil an 'kierview with Messrs McArthur Bros., of Wellington, regarding the sale oi Jte dreuge-Hcnnessy. McArthur Bros. engiueer: intended to make an inspection pf the dredge ,af . Easter with a view to purchasing same, .

, A fetter from the Patea Farmers Co-operative Freezing Co., Ltd., offer \ng "t-he 's.'s. Waverley for sale, was ftipally received.

Ii was decided that, the next mec i:g be held in Palmerston North on the last Monday in Aurj.l. ,

WHARF CHARGES

Mr 11. Osborne waited on the Board "with a request that it give co'hs ; der:r ‘ion to the question ;of reducing itwharfage charges. He stated that he had recently acquired,a scow for uk \Vellington-Foxton trade, and submit ■:.d figures in coiinection with the run King of it since February 29th, whit Bowed that if the venture was’ io b/ a success more patronage would hav: o be forthcoming. To encourage th... lie had considerably reduced h/s charges on through freight from Weilingto ,o Palmerston North,, and had made : - borough ,’cahvass of The dislrict am Wellington for trade." To assist to nade to' the , port, - he- ‘"now roques he Board; to make some, reduction of cs pait- of the wharfage charges. The chairman said the Board- appreciated Mr Osborne’s enterprise hi. pin-f ~iig a boat on the Foxton iu:i, and the. 1 -would be only tod pleased to assist lra with his project in every Way.pcssib:, out 'financially they were not in a vc-y; good position. , ’ Mr Osborne referred to the fact that (.wing- to striking a log in the rive.; tile . ‘‘Portland” had smashed a- pro

(•'filer, and"this had caused him a gC)

deal of expense. . E of.erring to tr. wharfage charges, Mr Osborne ’salt hat at the present time it cost more t get goods through, the port of Foxfo; man it did by motor lorry or rail. H urged that now that he had' reduce his. freight charges, the Board- ghoulact similarly and reduce the.wharfag ihargesi The reductions made indue Cd deductions of Is 6d on Foxton anr •mrrounding district freights. When Mr Osborne . wi; hdrew, t-h: Board gave the matter serious , eonsid cration.' Mr. Holben said that at the ■resent time the railways and motce 'orries were see-sawiiig with each othc: a freight cutting, and it was a case o' lie survival of the fittest. The Boaro . f course, was suffer mg as a resub. i'he whole transport system had been . eyolutionised since the macadamise ■ ion of the roads. He did not think i,. ;\ i.uld be a wise move for tile Board .ti .educe its charges under the elrcum stances. ,

Mr Berry, held an opposite view, con iidering it would be better for the Beard to reduce its charges and handle a quantity at a lower rate than little at a higher charge. Mr Nash said the. railways were out to beat the lorries and ' consequently were up against the Harbour Board, if the shipping to the port could be Increased the reduction suggested would be nothing. Mr Berry: A reduction in the charges would be an inducement to merchants to ship their goods through the port. We should give all the assistance possible to any venture to increase local shipping. . Mr Morlensen was of opinion that trade would be brisker when the Shannon Bridge was completed. A reduction in the wharfage charges would not make any difference. Good roads would greatly assist the port, and if the Levin road was in a better state he was sure, there would be more trade through the port for Levin.

* It, was decided that the .matter was too important to decide on *lmmediately, and it was held over until next meeting. • - ; f Mr McGregor was granted permission to remove the /logs in the river under the supervision of the pilot/