A BURNING QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1933, Page 10

A BURNING QUESTION

TRANSPORT COMPETITION

RAIL V. COASTAL SHIPS

"This is really a burning question," remarked Mr. K. McLeay at the annual meeting of tho Napier Chamber of Commerce, reports tho "Daily Telegraph," when tho following remit from the Wanganui Chamber was presented to■ tho Napier Chamber: —"The Wanganui Chamber urges tho association to tako up the; question of tho uneconomic competition inaugurated by the Bailways Board in conflict with coastal shipping and motor transport interests and which is now seriously affecting harbour boards j and private com-

panics." Mr. McLeay stated that when tho Railways Board was first approached it refused to meet representatives of tho shipping interests to discuss the position. Eventually, however, a meeting w;ts held and tho whole position placed clearly before tho Department.

The system adopted by tho railways was apparently to get all the transport of goods at prices which could leave" little, if any, margin of profit at all. It was obviously necessary that the country should have its mercantile marine, tjliis having been proved during the Great War, but if the policy of the railways was continued this would not be possible. Another feature- was tho fact that the public had subscribed a great deal q{ money for the purpose of building harbours, and the money had to coino ,froni somewhere to pay tho indebtedness'caused by their construction. ,It was essential that the, railways should not tVcspass on tho shipping interests; rather tho railways and the shipping interests • should cooporato and act as feeders for. each other. ■'' •

; The meeting approved tho remit, which will be further discussed at the annual conference of tho Associated Chambers at Wanganiii this month.