ELECTRICAL TRADE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 October 1924, Page 5

ELECTRICAL TRADE.

POWER BOARD COMPETITION. (J3Y TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. At a meeting of the Chamber cf Commerce to-night a letter was ic-:eived from the New Zealand Electrical Traders’ Association protesting againM trading operations by electric power boards, and asking the chamber to support them in a deputation to the Prime Minister. . The letter stated that the electrical business was developing to a greater extent than any other new business in this country. Many firms, some of long standing, and others more recent, had invested large sums of capital in the interests of the country generally. There was no combine, and there was no reason why they should not be given absolute freedom of trading rights. The unfair methods adopted by the boards seriously interfered with the business of private firms in many instances. Long credits, deferred payments and “cut” prices acted unfairly on private firms, and in some districts it was almost impossible for the latter to secure business owing to the restrictions placed on them and the Power Board regulations. If competitive trading, financed by ratepayers’ money, were allowed to continue, firms would find their business success threatened with entire destruction. The chamber was therefore appealed to for support on the question of the general principle involved. While the opinion was expressed that the chamber did not like to lend itself to political deputations, it was decided to grant the required support. The opinion was also, expressed that public bodies should be made to place, their; activities on the same business basis as private traders.