Dear Sir,—We have received copies of the new Tariff of landing and Storage charges which you propose bringing into use on the Ist of July next, and as it appears to us that, in some cases the proposed increase charges is hig! circumstances warrant we would you to be yood enough to re-consider the following points.
In the first place the rates of Wharfage for large steamers with foreign cargoes appear to be raised out of all proportion to other charges.
No increase is made in the charge for Coasting steamers or vessels under 300 feet, but whereas under the old tariff a vessel of 340 feet paid a single sum of Tls. 80 for Wharfaye, such a steamer would now have to pay Tls. 170 with a further fee of Tls. 50 p.d. for every day after the fifth.
Again the modern cargo steamers now chiefly used in the London trade as a rule measure 400 to 420 feet. Under the old tariff these would be charged from Tls. 130 to Ts. 155 but we are now asked to pay Tls. 200 to Tls. 210 with a probability of an additional charge being made for working over the 5 days.
Although we are now called upon to pay a very considerable advance in Wharfage dues we are willing to agree toyourincreased tariff provided the one charge is made and no more. We are firnily of opinion that the clause with reference to an extra charge being made for vessels working over 5 days is excessive and out of.consideration for your constituents should not be insisted upon.
In the first place it is clearly to the circumstances their vessaif: should be disinterest of shipowners that under any charged as promptly as possible, and this is more than ever the case when we remember that in most instances Shanghai is no longer the terminal port, as most of the cargo steamers now continue their voyages on to Japan.
Nothing is said in the tariff as to how the tive days are to be counted. Even if due allowance is made for holidays it would seem unreasonable to adhere to an arbitrary rule of tive days when work may be delayed through no fault of the vessels, such as for instance had weather, scarcity of coolies or the inability of the Wharf Company to remove cargo as fast as it is discharged, or to load the required quantity of bunker coals by the time a vessel has landed her cargo.
It is easy to understand that endless disputes would arise as to to the exact allowance which should be made for these delays.
In consequence of the clause which the Wharf Company inserts on their receipts for cargo received from vessels which have been discharged at night, and the extra cost incurred, it is always advisable to avoid slit work when possible, but if the five mit is insisted upon'additional night work will be forced upon the steamers.
Tt is not uncommon nowadays for a steamer to bring 2,000 or even 4,000 tons of cargo, a very considerable proportion. of which may be serap iron, coke, and the like which under the existing conditions cannot be discharged within 5 days. In the face of this we do not understand the system which practically results in taxing a steamer because she brings a largo amount of business to the Wharf Company.
Another clause which we consider should be amended is that one half of the above and shear tariff will be charged on weights delivered direct ex vessels in We are of course prepared to pay if we use the shears and cranes for lifting heavy weights, but it can easily be understood that cases may arise where consignees may prefer to take delivery of machinery and other heavy weights direct from the steamer. Tu such cases we consider that a charge of half shear tariff is excessive and that' all cargo discharged overside into boats while at the Wharf should be charged under the terms of clause 5. The charge for heavy wi h includes the use of cranes (if required) might also be modified in cases where the Wharf crane is not availed of for discharging.
We believe that your special attention has recently been directed towards the very great increase which has taken place in the past few years in the amount' of cargo landed at the Wharf ex boats, and that as it was in the interests of every one concerned to have the boats discharged aus promptly as possible it was advisable portable cranes should be provided for this purpose.
Aswe already pay an increase of over 50 per cent on the tariff rates for cargo lurided from the boats, can we understand that this includes the use of the cranes as far as ordinary cargo is concerned There are one or two other points on which we should he glad to receive further information.
We notice that a charge of 1/20 of 1 per cent on bullion or specie appears for the first time in your tariff. If it is proposed to make such a charge on treasure delivered. direct from the steamers we are of opinion that this should be omitted, as it has never been the custom to pay on cargo of this nature.
With reference to clause 8 we do not clearly understand whether an extra charge of L mace per ton will be levied on all conl worked after dark or if not under what conditions will the change be made.
Another point in connection with your charges to which we would like to draw your attention is that when steamers with large cargoes are detained at Woosung it sometimes happens that the Inst boats are not discharged until the 10 days' free storage have nearly expired and consignees are thus
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.