POWER BOARD TRADING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 11

POWER BOARD TRADING

DEFENCE BY SECRETARY Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. A reply to statements appearing under the name of the 1928 Committee in reference to trading by electric - power boards was made at the Secretaries’ Conference today by Mr. Beeclie, of Hamilton, in refuting what he termed extensive propaganda in the Press recently regarding alleged unfair trading on the part of power boards, and of the necessity, in the interests of fair play, of bringing the boards into line with companies and private traders aS regarding land and income tax. Inter alia, he mentioned that boards could not raise their charges with impunity. They were in competition with petrol, and, in any case, bound under their licences by maximum charges. After discounting the statement with regard to the building up of reserves, which was only sound business, and should be approved by any competent committee of business men, he said that, even if the allegation were correct. it had nothing whatever to do with the trading methods of boards; and, further, showed the anxiety of the 192 S Committee to prejudice public opinion against power boards.