CITY FREIGHTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11651, 16 October 1923, Page 4

CITY FREIGHTS

THE CORPORATION SERVICE PRIVATE CARRIERS SUGGEST IT3 ABOLITION. DEPUTATION TO COUNCILLORS. Mosers J. D. McGowan and Innia waited as a deputation from the Carriers' Association on the tramways committee of the Wellington City Council yesterday, and asked that the City Council should take into consideration the question of doing away with its freight service altogether on the ground that the competition of the city was unfair to private carriers. Mr McGowan said instances could be given of the City Council carrying on the service at a ridiculously low rate, whereas the fees charged by tlio private individuals and firms were reasonable, in as much as they complied with the city regulations as laid down in tho traffic by-laws. An instance was given in which the corporation service was doing the cartage for a city firm for £4 a month, while the charge by private carriers was £l4 for the same amount of work. The firm, it was said, had been quite satisfied with tho charge of £l4 until approached by the representative of the city freight service. Councillor H. D. Bennett asked if the deputation thought the council should not compete with private undertakings in this way. Mr McGowan said they thought the competition was unfair and: unreasonable. The freight service charges were far too low. The Mayor, who presided at the meeting, informed the deputation that its representations would lie carefully considered, and that the matter would lie reported on by the officers concerned.