FOXTON FREIGHT RATES.

Shannon News, 6 September 1929, Page 3

FOXTON FREIGHT RATES.

AN UNFAIR HANDICAP. HOW EXPANSION IS CHECKED. Tlie disadvantages under which Foxton labours as a port were stiikingly stated at a conference held in Palmerston on. Monday by tlie district Chambers of Commerce. From statements made it appeared (1) that the Railway Department gave goods' shipped through Wanganui a preferential rate on the railways, and (2) that though it is possible to effect a saving of 10s per ten on ficur and other goods shipped from the South Island to Foxton. for Levin and other centres, this is nullified by the fact that an equivalent higher charge is made for the goods by the merchants. The public are thus prevented from obtaining the full benefit of cheap sea carriage through the port of Foxton.

The question of the granting of a preferential freight rate by the Railway Department for goods distributed through the district from the port of Foxton was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Harbour Board held in Palmerston N. on Monday, when representatives were present from, the Palmerston North, Levin and Foxton Chambers of Commerce. Owing, however, to the paucity of information available concerning the factors influencing the position, the board decided to await receipt of apromised letter from the General Manager of Railways before taking definite action. Dealing with the matter under discussion, the board's secretary (Mr Rangiheuea) submitted a report to the effect that the commercial agent for the department had visited Foxton to investigate the merits of the board's •laim. for preferential railway rates on goods ex. ship, classed A, B, C, and D. The following - facts were pointed out to him on that occasion:—

■l.—That, by giving Wanganui a preferential railway rate, the department has placed Foxton at a disadvantage in serving its ratepayers and their goods on the same basis as obtaining at Wanganui. 2.—That the department is compelling the Board to cease operations and to continue levying the harbour rate which is £7OOO for the current year.

""■ 3. —That the taxpayers in the Foxton harbour rating area receive no differential scale of taxation in respec: of their contribution to the Consolidated Funds from which the department receives monetary assistance « during lean periods. 4.—That the request for a preferential rate is to affect the rating, area only if the department is unable to grant more. s.—That the department by i.«:s action in creating preferential rates for Wellington and Wanganui has encouraged a firm to penalise all flour landed at foxton with a tax of 10s per ton in order to equalise the price of a loaf of bread throughout the country. Minor details were discussed at. considerable length when the commerchl agents assured us that he was quite unable to recommend anything as ■his order of reference did not permit him to do so. In regartt to the question of reducing the minimum' load per truck from the board's private siding from 13 tons to a 3-ton, the agent assured us that he would recommend the_ general manager to reduce the minimum to 1 ton in lieu of 13 tons;

NO REPLY FROM GENERAL MANAGER. Mr J. A. Nash, ALP., stated tint he had been informed by the General Manager of Railways that the freights from Foxton to Feilding were cheaper than from Wanganui to Feilding, and had given an assurance that he would forward advice to the Board on the matter, but unfortunately no letter had yet been received. Mr M. E. Perreau (Mayor of Foxton) and representative of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, considered that the present position was grossly unfaii in that there should be a preferential rate from Wanganui, while those in .the Foxton Harbour Board were liable for rates to the extent of £7OOO per' annum in addition to the full freight charges for goods handled through the porC At the same time Wanganui was -obtaining the benefit of a reduced rat' 1 . Mr Nash: You are up against a brick wall. The Railway Department does not want to encourage freights through Foxton.

Mr J. Linklater, M.P., chairman of the Board, commented that the Railway Department seemed if atlier obstinate in the matter, as preferential rates should be in its interests. Mr Nash suggested that the Chamber of Commerce representatives combine to form a deputation to the Minister and General Manager of Railway's. They Avould never get anywhere until they 'took that course of action. The Chairman: The best thing that we can do is to send a good deputation to the Minister. We should push this matter ahead.

LEVIN'S SUPPORT

Mr Blenkhorn (Levin Chamber of Commerce said it had to be remembered that the wharves were purchased from the Railway Department at a cost of £SOOO, and= the Board should be given the full benefit of the business accruing. It would have the full backing of the Levin Chamber, which would be glad to be represented on any, deputation. It was pointed out by Mr H. E. Garbett (Foxton Chamber of Commerce) that practically all the goods handled were from southern ports and railway business on the Wellington section would not be affected. Efforts were being made to establish a connection with the South Island ports as a progressive policy. It was only fair that Foxton should have the same advan

tages as other ports. There were two good boats now trading there. The Chairman: And very suitablo ones, too. Mr Garbett added that the district wa s penalised to the extent of 10s per ton on flour and 7s 6d a ton on biscuits above Wanganui. _ The chairman observed that, if the preferential rates were obtained, ths trade of Foxton would be greatly inMr F. S. Goldingham stated that the. wlicle district was affected. Dannevirk* drew its flour supplies from Wanganui or Wellington and not from Napier. Foxton could supply at a cheaper price if gr-i/ited the preferential rate. He would do anything to support the port of Foxton for the sake of Palmerston North. Mr Winks (Palmerston Chamber o: Commerce) pointed out that, if. tin preferential rate were to operate from Foxtoji to Palmerston North, goods could be. forwarded by sea from Wellington to Foxton and then transhipped to *thc detriment of the freight on the railway between Wellington and Palmerston North. He was not opposed to the preferential rate, but every aspect, of the question should be considered. The Chairman: Then why should there be a ureferential rate from Wanganui ? The same applies there. Mr R. Edwards stated that it seemed to him the Railway Department was penalising about 60,000 people in this district in order to make the system pay.

RELIEF FROM RATES. Mr W. G. Ross: In the event of the preferential rate going through, will the increased trade lighten the rates in the Board's area. The Chairman: Certainly, it will. We have two good boats and I don't think that there will be any need to strike a rate at all next year. A special committee was set up to await the arrival of the letter from the General Manager of Railways and to consider it prior to deciding whether a deputation to Wellington was »ee«ssary t« deal with the matter.