DOMINION EXPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 10

DOMINION EXPORTS.

FLAT RATE OF FREIGHT. SUPPORT FROM NAPIER. (Per United Press Association.) NAPIER, October 10. The danger to minor ports of the movement for centralisation of shipping at the four chief centres was discussed at a meeting in Napier to-day of the Harbour Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and shipping, freezing, dairying, fruit growing, and wool growing interests. In opening the proceedings, Mr A. E. -lull pointed out that the meeting had been called in order that the producers of the province should get together witli the idea of forming a policy for handling produce through the port of Napier. It was common knewledge that the authorities at Wellington and other main ports had advocated the abolition of the flat rate and had otherwise voiced schemes for the centralisation of shipping. If their efforts were successful the result would be the centralisation of shipping to the main ports. Napier, of course, could really be termed one of the main ports of New Zealand as far as the export of wool and produce was concerned. However, it was thought that a general meeting of all those concerned would be decidedly beneficial to the community and to the province, it was patent to all that the centralisation to the larger ports was a force which had to be fought. Centralisation had taken place in other countries to the detriment of the producers and the public in general. Mr dull then moved—“ That this meeting affirms that the present system of a fiat rate of freight for export from the Dominion has proved to he advantageous to the Dominion, and sincerely trusts that abolition of it will j.ot bn brought about.” The motion was carried unanimously, alter which the meeting went into committee. Following a discussion, a committee of all the interests concerned was set up to watch events and act if it was considered nocossary-