GOODS FOR WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 218, 9 June 1921, Page 6

GOODS FOR WANGANUI

RIVAL DISTRIBUTING CENTRES WELLINGTON OR NEW PLYMOUTH ? Hr Telegraph—Press Association. New Plymouth, June 8. The question of whether it is cheaper for Wanganui merchants to import through Wellington or New Plymouth was referred to to-day by the president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, who said, in answer to the criticism of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: “We stand by our figures absolutely.” The president added: “Mr. Carr (Wellington Chamber’s president) has assumed that Taranaki is claiming that Wanganui importers would effect a great saving by having all their United Kingdom imports sent through New Plymouth instead of Wellington, and ho proceeds to quote the charges from New . Plymouth on goods classed by the railway as A, B, and C Rhe three highest rates), though on certain goods a saving can be shown, it being purely a question of respective weight measurement. Mr. Carr overlooked the vital fact that Hie figures quoted by us referred to a definite item, salt being shipped from Liverpool in Juno. This class of goods shows a saving, and with such widely used imports as slag and phosphates the saving via New Plymouth is over 7s. more than on salt, whilst on overseas coal the saving is also considerable. Tho figures in connection with salt are:—Via Wellington to Wanganui, 411' 16s. Id.; via New Plymouth, plus railage to Wanganui, 411 6s. id. Mi. Carr states that the transhipping rate nt Wellington is 4s. 6d , not 65.. as stated by us, for he says that the shipping companies bear the Wellington Harbour improvement rate. The figure no quoted was the actual cost on a shipment to New Plymouth via Wellington. One can hardly think that. Mr. Carr suggests that 4«?. Gd. will cover nil charges in Wollin?ton including storage, owing io the long and' vexatious delays so frequent there. •\s a matte/ of fact the Union Company requires 9sJ fid. per ton to cover these charges when issuing a through bill of lading from Australia, and we are ot opinion that 6s. is a conservative estimate for an average shipment. Even it we were to accept the Is. fid. reduction as correct, it would not materially alter our contention, that on the bulk lines specially mentioned Wellington cannot compete with New Plymouth as a distributing centre for tho Wanganui district. All we ask is for Wanganui importers to- investigate the position for themselves, and use the port. that, pays them better.’’