FREIGHT RATES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30738, 30 April 1965, Page 12

FREIGHT RATES

Investigation Of Proposal The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) yesterday advised the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. G. Pearce) that the Department of Industries and Commerce would make a full report on the possibility of differential freight rates between the South and North Islands. The proposal for differential rates was made by the association. Mr Holyoake said the proposal interested the Government but? because of its wide ramifications, careful study of all the details was required. “It is likely that the department will need to approach South Island manufacturers to obtain information on the experience of South Island firms of the practical effects of freight costs,” said Mr Holyoake. Mr Pearce said that he was sure that when the investigation was carried out by the departmental officers it would fully substantiate the association’s claim that the present freight rates involved in the transport of goods to the North. Island was retarding South Island industrial growth.

The association, said Mr Pearce, believed a major step towards the development of industry in the South Island, would be the introduction by the Government of lower railway, sea and air freight rates for the transport of goods from the South Island to the North Island.

In Wellington yesterday, a spokesman for the Department of Industries and Commerce, said the investigation into freight rate proposals for the South Island should get under way next month. The department expects that its investigation might take about three months.