THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 1948. Associated Chambers Of Commerce Conference

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1948, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 1948. Associated Chambers Of Commerce Conference

As revealed in our reports of the anual conference of the Northland Associated Chambers of Commerce, held in Whangarei on Saturday, m. ny subjects of importance to the northern peninsula and the Dominion were discussed.

Discussions were marked by well reasoned and temperate argument, and, because of that, they should carry weight when submitted to the Government and other authorities. Questions of national significance naturally come especially within the province of chambers of commerce, and it was accordingly to be expected that such matters as land settlement, road, rail and sea transport, and electrical power should figure on the agenda of the conference.

That some parochial and national questions are divided by a very thin partition was demonstrated when shipping and electric-power were under discussion.

The disadvantage and loss sustained by Northland as a result of the centralisation of overseas shipping at Auckland, for instancy, constituted a strong argument in support of Northland’s claim that its primary produce should be shipped at one of its deep-water ports, thus obviating the long and costly haul to Auckland.

One speaker, referring to this aspect of the question, said that the cost of shipping frozen meat from Moerewa to Auckland was £34,000 last year, whereas shipment through Opua or Whangarei would have cost only £6OOO, a comparison which speaks for itself. This statement should strengthen the campaign for decentralisation of overseas shipping, a matter of vital importance to secondary ports where huge sums have been ' spent on harbour development schemes. Because direct loading into big ships, or lightering to main ports has been discontinued, these secondary ports, deprived of revenue upon which they had relied, are suffering a heavy rate burden. Northland, which must inevitably increase its already large output of primary produce, valued at £7,000,000 a year, indeed provides an overwhelming case in favour of the decentralisation of shipping, and it is to be hoped that the decisions of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in this respect will bear good fruit. Electric-power provoked discussion of another subject in which the interests of the Dominion in general and of Northland in particular are intermingled.

In view of the obvious intention of the Government to rely primarily upon hydro-generation of elec-tric-power, and the realisation that demand will continue to exceed supply unless every avaijjfcble source is utilised, point was given to the decision of the conference to urge the establishment of subsidiary power schemes wherever possible. This argument is particularly applicable to Northland, which, because of its geographical situation, requires very long feeder lines to bring power from the Waikato national stations, with consequent heavy leakage of current. The greater the quantity of power generated in Northland the greater would be the relief obtained by the national stations, a fact which justifies the emphasis placed by the conference for investigation of suggested local schemes in Northland, an argument which will doubtless be used by local bodies in other parts of the North Island where there exist potential sources of hydro-electric power. The conference was on good ground when it decided to make representations to the Government to devote a larger share of petrol tax to the improvement and maintenance of all public roads in the Dominion.

Acknowledgment of good work being done upon roads and highways was made, but the conference very rightly urged that Northland is entitled to greater assistance than it is receiving in comparison with some areas more happily placed in regard to construction and maintenance of roads.

Associated with the transport requirements of Northland was discussion of the need for improved train services, which, since curtailment made during the war, have been inadequate to demands. The conference made a special plea for the allocation of a railcar service, which, it was shown, would provide a long-awaited boon. In view of the announcement that the department has purchased 25 railcars, it was decided to urge the Minister to give effect to the undertaking that when cars became available Northland’s claims would be considered.

The institution of a railcar to give businessmen and the general community a fast and comfortable service is overdue, and it is to be hoped that the representations of the Associated Chambers of Commeice will be favourably received by the Minister.