WATERSIDERS BLAMED FOR INCREASE IN FREIGHT CHARGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 2

WATERSIDERS BLAMED FOR INCREASE IN FREIGHT CHARGES

WELLINGTON, August 21 (P.A.). —Comment on the increase in the freight rates to New Zealand from overseas because of the slower turnround of shipping is contained in a statement by the Dominion president of Federated Farmers (Mr W. N. Perry). “There should be no need for me to point out that this is a matter that affects everybody, not only farmers,” Mr Perry said. “It affects every person in New Zealand, because it means we have got to give the proceeds of a greater proportion of our production to people overseas for services rendered. We have got to do this because a certain section of the community in New Zealand is not playing the game. “This means that the actions of this ! one section—the watersiders—are i placing a burden on every New Zeai lander, and it is a burden that should be avoided. I wish to urge that in any settlement of the waterside dispute the Government will take steps to see that safeguards are instituted which will provide against this sort of thing happening in future. “No section of the community should be allowed to take steps which result in the lowering of the national income without being brought to book for it. I sincerely hope that the Government' will see to it that the watersiders give guarantees that their actions in future will not result in New Zealand having to pay more to people outside the Dominion for services rendered.”