SHIPMENT OF PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 50, 22 November 1928, Page 10

SHIPMENT OF PRODUCE

FLAT RATE OF FREIGHT CENTRALISATION OPPOSED Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, November 21. A largely-attended conference of local bodies and. dairy factory representatives from all parts of the West Coast and Main Trunk liue met here to-day to discuss the flat rate of freight. Mr. A. G. Bignell presided. . The chairman said a determined effort was being mude by the main ports to . centralise all produce and do away with .the flat rate at secondary ports. This, tlie speaker. contended, would be detrimental to the producers, as they would have to pay extra freight on produce, and the long delay in transport would deteriorate the produce. Mr. Bignell said that overseas shipping companies -were quite satisfied with the present system of flat rate and so were the producers. ~ . • Mr. W. A. Veitch said it would be most regrettable if centralisation came about. It would tend to decrease the amount of produce from the land, as land would go out of production. The large ports did not meet the requirements ot primary producers as secondary ports like Wanganui. Various delegates spoke of the excellent facilities for handling produce at Wanganui, and the following motion was carried unanimously: “That this confeiCnce of representatives of the V anganui City Council, Chamber of Commerce, County Council, Harbour; Board. Marton Borough Council, Waitotara County Council, Rangitikei County Council, latea Harbour Board, and dairy factories served by the port of Wanganui find other commercial interests, affirms the present system of a flat rate, of shipping freights between the. Dominion ot New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and strongly opposes any interference therewith, as it is of the opinion that the svstein now in force has proved the best for the development and prosperity of New Zealand; and- that the Wanganui Harbour Board be asked to forward a copy of this resolution-to the. Prime ■Minister, each member of Parliament, and the representatives of the ’overseas shipping companies, both in England and New Zealand.” ' .