SURPLUS WAR ASSETS

Evening Star, Issue 25948, 13 November 1946, Page 10

SURPLUS WAR ASSETS

SOUTH ISLAND'S DISADVANTAGE EQUAL COST AT ALL PORTS SOUGHT Because southern purchasers were penalised through 'surplus war assets being sold from North Island dumps, the executive of the Dunedin Returned Services’ .Association last night decided to recommend to the Minister of Rehabilitation (Hon. C. F. Skinner) that the goods be delivered at the main centres at a standard landed cost. Surplus services trucks now appeared to be available only from Auckland, and ex-servicemen in the South Island were therefore at a disadvantage, said the secretary (Mr 0. L. Ferens). It would cost about £SO to bring a truck to. Dunedin from the North Island, which would eliminate the 15 per cent, allowance given, said Mr.W. G-. Nicholson. “Itis a pig in a poke,” he added, as the purchaser had no opportunity of inspecting the trudk, which often would not be the type he required. “ The specifications are vague and hardly describe the trucks,” he added. Two were now being held at Christchurch and 18 at Auckland. The Government should be requested to bear the expense of bringing the trucks to Dunedin if they were purchased in the North Island. “ We should press for a rebate of 15 per cent, on the cost price to recompense an ex-serviceman in the South Island,” said Mr A. J. H. Jeavons. Mr W. E. Earnshaw thought the association should also press for delivery at main ports. The motion, moved by Mr N. G. Stewart, that will be forwarded to the Dominion Executive Committee as well as the Minister, was: ‘‘That all surplus war materials sold through the Rehabilitation Department should be delivered at the main centres at the same cost.”