REQUEST FOR APOLOGY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 129, 2 June 1936, Page 10

REQUEST FOR APOLOGY

WANGANUI COMMENT CRITICISM OF RAILWAY DEPARTMENT (By Telegraph—l'rcss Association.) WANGANUI, This Day

Resentment has been expressed by the Railway Department as the outcome of comment made by the president, Mr. A. S. Burgess, and other members at a recent meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce deprej eating the Railway Department's comImercial methods. At a meeting of the chamber last night a letter was received from the Department asking for an apology, and the chamber decided to reply suggesting that the Department should make further inquiries into the position before taking the extreme step of withdrawing its representative from the chamber. The Department's letter stated that no representative would be present at the quarterly meeting and the Department's representative stated that ne had been instructed by the General Manager (Mr. G. H. Mackley) to advise that until such time as an apology was forthcoming the Department would not be represented at the meetings. The president said he did not think an apology was necessary. The Department's practice of giving a low rale of freight to one firm without extending it to others was commercial immorality. It would not be tolerated by a private firm. He added that if the railways had their way they would strangle trade in Wanganui and the general merchandise man was being absolutely persecuted. Other members of the chamber suggested that the matter be discussed when the General Manager was visiting Wanganui, and a motion was passed expressing the opinion that the, busi- : ness men of Wanganui had a legitimate . grievance against the Department as 1 far as freight was concerned. They •iwere surprised at the attitudJ of the ; I Department and felt that further m- ! quirics should be mede by the DcJpartmcuL