NO CENTRALISATION

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 8

NO CENTRALISATION

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE SHIP’ »TS CAPTURE BY FOREIGN SERVICES FEARED [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 1. The fear that foreign shipping interests would capture much of New Zealand’s ti'ade if centralisation of shipments of primary produce was enforced was expressed at the Harbour Boards’ Conference. Unrest in Australia, and other evils were traced to shipping from terminal ports, and the conference, after lengthy discussion, carried a resolution emanating from Napier, which conveyed that Centralisation of shipping would bo wasteful and detrimental to the dominion, and should not bo encouraged. Mr Jull (chairman of the Napier Harbour Board), in presenting the remit, said the departmental officers were not in a position to guide this country in respect to its transport problems. Some of them were associated with Local Government Loan Boards, to which body applications for harbour board loans had to be submitted. Did the delegates see anything in that? Another factor to be considered, with centralisation -was the possibility of encouraging foreign shipping services, which might jeopardise the operations of the four British lines that at present handled New Zealand's frozen' meat, dairy produce, and wool for tlie overseas markets. Mr Bignell (Wanganui) seconded the remit, which was supported by Mr Wallace (Timaru), Mr Duncan (Nelson), Mr Everett (Motueka), and Mr Aitken (Bluff).