FLAT FREIGHT RATE SOUGHT

Evening Star, Issue 18332, 20 July 1923, Page 7

FLAT FREIGHT RATE SOUGHT

SOUTH ISLAND HANDICAP.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

“THE EXPLOITING NORTH.”

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WELLINGTON, July 20.

A large and representative deputation of South Island members was introduced by Mr Sidov to the Postmaster-General, and ashed that the same rate of freight be charged to the South Island main porta as to Auckland and Wellington in regard to cargo on the subsidised mail steamers from Vancouver and ’Frisco.

Mr Sidey stated that the deputation comprised the South Island members, who wished «to raise the question of rates on merchandise carried on subsidised mail steamers. Goods landed in Auckland, consigned to Wellington from Vancouver, were only charged Auckland rates, and goods landed in Wellington for Auckland paid the Wellington rales; whereas the South Island cargo had to pay transhipment charges and local freight. As a concrete instance, an Auckland merchant could ship American goods to Dunedin for £1 11s 8d a ton, but Dunedin merchants, using the s.omo route, had lo_ pay a transhipment charge and coastal freight, making a total of £1 13s 7d. The matter had been raised repeatedly, for they were emphatic that tho handicap should bo removed, but nothing had been done. Tho Hon. J. G. Coates: That is incorrect. It was fully investigated and considered by the Government. Tho Deputation: Why didn’t your Government do it?

Mr J. M. Dickson asked if the Minister had approached the question with unbiased mind.

Mr Coates: I approached it with the object of filming what it would cost to .have a flat rate throughout Now Zealand. There is no competition on the ’Frisco or Vancouver route, .and we got uo encouragement through Panama. Then we tried to find out what it would cost to have a fiat rate, but the price was hopeless. Mr Dickson said he fully recognised that it might mean an increased subsidy, but the South Island felt it had put up with quite enough injustice at the expense of the exploiting North, without being penalised in this way. Ho urged the Minister once more seriously to consider the matter. Mr Armstrong declared that it was not a matter of North v. South. In addition to actual loss, the amount of damage through extra handling was serious. Mr Sullivan stated that Christchurch opinion favored 'Wellington as the port of call, with a flat rate for the whole of New Zealand. Owing to slow handling, cargo did not reach Christchurch till the letter mail by the same steamer had reached Sydney. The Minister; How will wo settle that? .Will we have to ask Auckland ? Mr Sullivan: No! It is a dominion matter. Mr De la Perrellc suggested that if the shipping company would do nothing, the Railway Department could come to the rescue of the people in the south. Mr Isitt said that if the whole concession could not be secured, perhaps something could be got, # The Hon. A. F. Hawke spoke of the six weeks’ delay in getting goods from Auckland to the Bluff, and advocated Wellington as the port of call. Mr Coates, in reply, stated that the request had not been practicable so far because the amount involved in a flat rate was so much in excess of what reasonable men would accept that it would be folly. The flat rate idea could be carried to extraordinary lengths. “ I have recollections,” continued Mr Coates, “of a considerable wheat subsidy contributed by the dominion to South Island growers.”

Air Witty: To feed the north. The Alimster; “I cannot recollect that there was a flat rate for flour, bran, and pollard.” He could not understand the difference in freight quoted as between Auckand and Dunedin merchants, and he would like full details for investigation. He would find out what were the freights, and go into tho matter again from all points of view. The deputation had no chance of making Wellington the port of call for the Vancouver service, because the Union Company made the run through Auckland to Sydney, and relied on the Australian trade. He would try to arrange something more satisfactory so far as the south was concerned. He realised that all taxpayers contributed to the service, which was important to tho whole country, and that people then had the opportunity to come along and expect something for their contributions.