“SIMPLY PROPAGANDA”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 October 1926, Page 2

“SIMPLY PROPAGANDA”

SECONDARY PORTS DISPARAGED COM PLAINT AGAINST WELLINGTON Resentment is felt in Wanganui at certain remarks made at a recent meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board concerning the elimination of the secondary ports cl' the Dominion Unloading of produce. Decided tennis were used by Mr A. G. Bignell. chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, at a recent meeting of the board, in replying to statements made at a meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, which ho alleged decried the secondary ports of New Zealand. Mr Bignell expressed the opinionthat the remarks made were simply propaganda, due to recognition of the growing opposition from the minor ports of New Zealand. Referring to statements that visits to minor po-rts were loading heavy costs on to shipping companies and shippers. Air Bignell said such remarks were unjustified and unfair. He pointed out. that local importers and producers had to foot a big bill on account of transhipments through Wellington, and that the cast of transporting cargo from Wellington to Wanganui, olus the savings made on direct imports and exports through Wanganui, represented, over a period of 21 months, the sum of approximately £182.000, much of which was on account of the cost of a virtually useless service.

NOT A BIT PAROCHIAL! “I notice that the speakers at Wellington said they did not wish to be parochial." said Air Bignell. “but all their arguments were in favour of their own port, as though Wellington was the only port in the province. Now, gentlemen. T think you will agree to support me in making every effort to induce direct shipments to and from Wanganui. which has been proved to be an excellent distributing centre." (Hear, hear.” Mr .TollI) Morrison : “It is the developing of this port that is making Wellington so active.” The chairman pointed out that flour sent to Wanganui from Australia was distributed as far afield ns Palmerston North ami Haweia. Two boats with flour, the Kaiwarra and the Kaitangala. were now on the water, and the freight to Wanganui was no more than it would he to Wellington. Air P. Iligginbotlom attributed the statements made in Wellington simply to the enterprise of secondary ports within a hundred miles or so of Wellington. He cited instances, in the experience of his own firm, wherein the advantages of shipping to Wanganui were obvious.

“UNFAIRLY DISTORTED" In Hie ease of a shipment of 10.000 feet of oak from Sydney the saving through shipping to Wanganui was 6s or 7s per hundred feet. Air W. Aforrison: “Would Wellington call New Plymouth a secondary port ?’'

The Chairman: “Oh. yes." Air Morrison said lie knew o*f a Stratford firm which. largely because of direct shipments through New Plymouth, could undersell Wellington firms in their own territory. Chairman : “The Wellington outburst is nothing hut propaganda. Facts have been unfairly distorted to make a case against Wanganui."