DIRECT SERVICE WITH SYDNEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 69, 21 March 1903, Page 2

DIRECT SERVICE WITH SYDNEY.

———♦ HARBOUR BOARD'S ENCOURAGEMENT. At the meetiog of the Harbour Boird on Friday Mr Newton King brought up the subjeot of enoouragiog a direct 8 rvice of steamers between New Plymouth and Sydney, and referred to the action taken by the Ctamb°r of Comi merce in setting up a committee to confer with the Union 8.8. Company on the matter. He statad that as th« conference was to take placa the Fallowing day it was a matter of urgency ••hit the Board should consider *hat assistance they could render a project of such vast importance to the distric", as it would be a very sreit advantage to the farmers throughout Taraniki to get these boats taking their produce direct to such a good market. The Union Oompatiy might not put on 'heir largest boats for this service, but they had steamers that would answer the purpose, and he could only say, speaking for the farmers, that it wouH mean a great difference to them financially if the proposal were carried out, esp'-cklly during the coming winter months. It was impossible to send produce with advantage to the Australian market unless we could got. direct shipment, Auckland was doing a good trade with Sydney, by sending meat and other produce supplied from Taranaki, and if the Board could reduce the port dues foe direct lines the result would be highly favourable. He pointed out that high tannage rates put on vessels and cargo hid to be borne by the farmer*, so that if the dues were reduced they would be receiving a great boon. The present rates were per ton for berthage, 3|d per ton for shipping, and a similar amount for transhipping, Mr Price considered that the only reocession could be on the registered tonnage. After some discussion as to whether a motion oh the subject could be put without no'ica, the Board suspended standing orders. Mr Kiog then moved that with a view to assisting the establishment, by the Union S.S. Company, of a diivob service between New Plymouth tnd Sydney, the Board w.iive for six months the berthage charge of |d per ton on tha rgiste r ed tonnage of steamers engaged in such service, acd remit one half the wharfage charge of 3|d per ton. Mr Foieman onsHered that there should be a gua'nnVe from tho com pany as ' o the service. Mr Maxwell said he had great pleasure in seconding the motion, as ;t.he proposal was ab'olu'ely a direc 1 . mode of benefi'ting the tha district, without any risk to the Bjard, as they could loss nothing by the concession, and it would probably as-ist in establishing a trade that would greatly bemfit tha country settlera generally. Mr King pointed, out that in on

line alone—potatoes, the back settlers would benefit; greatly, as under present conditions, that crop was worth but little to them unless they could get direct shipment, which would enable them to make a good profit. In ad-. ditioa to this, thoueands of boxes of but.tor would be sent during the winter to Australia, besides grain, and other produce, Mr Foreman considered that it would cot be fair to differentiate in the treatment of vessels engaged in that trade, and other vessels now coming to the port. Air King, in reply, pointed to the action of the >nt in subsidjVng steuuers for South Africa in order to benefit th 3 colony's trade. • Mr Max cell emphasised the fact that the mova was in the right direction, and had distinctly for it-.s object tho promotion of a new trade. Lie advocated taking cff *ll chirges excspt for [ transhipment. | Mr King poin'ed ou*. ihit to retain the transhipment ch irge would not be fair to other puts in the die ric'-, sueh as Waitara, Patea, and Opuaake, as fill , par's of the distric, should receive ths ! benefit of the trade. I Ths Chairman was in favour of taking off all clnrg<s both for ou :going and iocoming direct s'eamois. Mr McLean : You will have the Sydney merchauts pouring in their stuff to New Plymouth instead of to other places, as I Mr King : Thit is just whit is wanted, and it wou'd give the farmers such a chance as they never had before. It would ba well to eacouraga return cargoes. | Eventually it was resolved that, with ' a view to encourage direct steamers ; between Naw Plymouth and the Australian Commonwealth, the Board J waive the charges of £ 1 per ton for bjrthege, 3£d per ton fjt cargo landed, and pjr ton for cargo shipped or transhipped. " ' ■■ ■»■