‘UNFAIR COMPETITION’

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 6

‘UNFAIR COMPETITION’

Wanganui Harbour Board and Rail Charges"

Dominion Special Service.

Wanganui, January 20.

Complaints of unfair competition previously raised’by tbe Wanganui Harbour Board were brought to a head at to-day’s meeting of the board, when replies to the board’s letter were read from the Prime Minister, Hou. il. J. Savage, .the. Minister of Transport, Hou. R. Semple, the Hon. P. C. Webb and Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui. In its letter to tbe Prime Minister the■ board’ stated that a-transport company had quoted a Wanganui business firm’s rate of 30/- per ton for the carriage of goods from Wellington to Wanganui. If 40/- per ton was a fair rate for ’ freight between Wellington and Palmerston North, a rail distance of 90 miles, the letter continued, 45/per ton in comparison, was a low rate between Wellington and ’Wanganui for a road distance of 130 miles. The cutting of the rate to 30/- per ton was considered by the board to have been done with one object in view, only to divert cargo from ships and the port. Mr. Savage’s reply to the letter was that he would be giad to confer with his colleague, the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. .Semple, later. Mr, Cotterill replied that the matter would be looked into.

The Hon. P. C. Webb, who later replied on Mr. Semple’s- behalf, said he had investigated the position, finding that under the existing legislation flie question of rates to be charged on the railways was entirely a matter for the Railways Board and could not be dealt with under tlie Transport Licensing Act He proposed to make in the near future an investigation into the whole of the transport problem. In this connection he would probably arrange a conference of the various interests. The class of competition objected to by the board would be among tbe matters investigated. x