THE FREIGHTS' QUESTION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8789, 17 April 1907, Page 2

THE FREIGHTS' QUESTION.

Concentration Required.

Press Associate n,

Auckland, April 15,

Mr McNab, in a speech at Te Puke, said that as trade developed it would bo found that before New Zealand could compete .with other colonies such as Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland where everything went to one port we should have to get freights between Now Zealand and England enormously redned. If large steamers had to go to several ports for cargo, freights would remain high aud it would pay New Zealand infinitely better to concentrate goods at its chief ports. Auckland for instance should say to the shipping companies “Bringyour largest aud best vessels hero and we will load them from one port.” Then freights “would come down to the lowest figure. Competition in the near future would compel New Zealand to resort to that means of getting low freights." The Government of the day would not hesitate to join with merchants and shippers so that producers might be able to concentrate trade at one point. Mr McNab added that during his present tour he had travelled aud seen hundreds of thousands of acres of -waste land, every acre of which could be brought under profitable oc-,. cupatiou. He did not kuow any place in the South Island where anything like such an enormous tract of country was adapted for close settlement as in the King Country. The existence of this land in Auckland province should he known all over the colony.