THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1921, Page 7

THE HARBOR.

EXTRA FREIGHT FOR DELAY. At yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, the following letter, addressed to Stainton and Co., Ltd., from the General Steamship Corporation, .San Francisco, regarding freight from San Francisco to New Plymouth was read: “Our present rate on benzine to main New Zealand ports, such as Auckland and Wellington, is 50c. per case, and on general cargo 15.00 lollars to 25.00 dollars per ton weight or measurement, depending on the nature of the commodity As regards rates to the port of New Plymouth, we may say we are prepared to send vessels direct to that port provided sufficient inducement can be offered. It is true we have found it necessary to charge a slightly higher rate on case oil to tins port, for the reason that we are not always assured of berths being available on arrival of our steamers. As an instance, we may say our steamer West Mahwah last trip South had a shipment of 10,000 cases of benzine for New Plymouth, but was forced to wait, at Wellington three days owing to the berth at New Plymouth being occupied.” It was' pointed out by jnembers that New Plymouth was not peculiar in respect to lack of berthage at particular periods. The West Mahwah itself on the same trip had been held up for a few weeks in Auckland because of the congestion there, whilst at Wellington it was not easy at times to get despatch. At the same time the necessity for further berthage at New Plymouth was acknowledged, and it was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the Harbor Board.