DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1941, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS

[per press association.] CYCLIST’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 27. Leonard Carney, aged 40, died in the Christchurch Hospital at 12.50 p.m. to-day, after having been ad- > mitted in an unconscious condition about 12 hours before. He was found ■ lying on the road at the corner of Moorhouse Avenue and Antigua Street half an hour after midnight, with injuries to the side of the head. The passer-by who saw him telephoned the St. John Ambulance, which took him to hospital. He underwent an operation, but he did not regain consciousness before his death. Carney was married with a family. There was no sign of damage to his bicycle, which was standing against a fence where he was found. WELLINGTON PORT CHARGES WELLINGTON, April 26. A meeting of the freight and trans- ; port committee of 'the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce held to discuss the proposal of the Wellington Harbour Board to increase its port • charges, passed the following resolution: — “That, as many ports which normally enjoy the benefit of direct shipping have now, owing to war conditions, to depend on transhipment from Wellington, this committee trusts that the Wellington Harbour Board will increase its charges only as a last resort.” It was stated that it was considered unfair to Taranaki importers in particular for the Wellington rates to be increased at a time when the war restricted direct imports at New Plymouth, throwing a heavier temporary burden on the coastal services from Wellington. PETROL CONSUMPTION. WELLINGTON, April 28. An important representative conference was held recently in Wellington to consider the petrol position, according to a statement issued to-day by the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), who stated that among those present at the conference were the Oil Fuel Controller and representatives of employers, transport ,the Associated Chambers of Commerce, Farmers’ Union, motor organisations, motor trade, Manufacturers’ Federation, engineers’ and motor mechanics’ organisations. The conference unanimously issued a statement expressing the opinion that a further reduction in petrol consumption would be of real assistance to the Empire in the prosecution of the war. New Zealand’s fleet of motor vehicles, however, was of definite value for defence purposes and transport, and the conference was of opinion that, in the meantime, these vehicles should be kept on the road.

The conference was also of opinion that everything should be done to avoid the duplication of services, and to reduce petrol consumption to the greatest possible extent, consistent with efficiency.

DRAPERS AND PRICE CONTROL WELLINGTON, April 28.

Replying to statements by the New Zealand Federation of Drapers, Clothiers and Boot Retailers, which claimed that the Tribunal’s formula was unjust and unworkable, the Price Tribunal says that it always endeavoured to treat each case on its merits. Soon after the outbreak of war, the Drapers’ Federation asked the Tribunal for special treatment in regard to administration of price control. The Federation claimed that if allowed to increase their prices only by the amount of increased costs, their trade would be bankrupted. The Tribunal states that investigation showed the drapers’ turnover had been increased over pre-war figures, and there was no fear that the results prophesied by the drapers would occur. The Tribunal also says it has been disappointed with the lack of co-operation by the drapers’ trade. It worked out a system to avoid individual applications being made for price increases, but in several large towns, the drapers consistently failed to co-operate.