OPEN COMPETITION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 13

OPEN COMPETITION

FREIGHTS OVERSEAS

FAVOURED BY FARMERS

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

The existing New Zealand overseas shipping interests and those which seek to. gain a share of the : freight were represented in lengthy letters received at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers' Union held'at Feilding. The president (Mr. Lloyd Hammond) said that the matter was a very important one at the present time, since the Dairy and Meat Boards were about to-negotiation hew freight agreements for the carriage of our produce to the English markets. ! He was convinced that competition among tho shipping interests was essential, and if- the interests now claiming a share of the business were prohibited ,from operating there would be no competition. The existing freight business was in the hands of a combine, and it was necessary to have some reduction in the charges, but he could not see this coming about unless there was fair competition. The representations of other interests who definitely offered freight reductions should.be considered.

Open competition was favoured By Mr. E. B. Gordon, who moved that the oxe&utive, recognising the.importance of competition in overseas freights, holds the opinion that all British companies should be considered in, the fixing of freight contracts. ';.'

The motion was seconded by Mr. J, H. Mason.

Mr. G. L. Marshall expressedthe view that the London representatives of the Dairy Control and Meat Boards knew more about tho position than the producers of this country, and that it would be better to leave it in their hands. The motion was carried.