CENTRALISING SHIPPING

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1928, Page 9

CENTRALISING SHIPPING

STRONG PROTEST FROM NAPIER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Napier, Last Night. The danger to the minor ports of the movement for the centralisation of shipping at the four chief centres was discussed at a meeting in Napier to-day of the harbour board, Chamber of Commerce, and shipping, freezing, dairying, fruit-growing and wool-growing interests. In opening proceedings Mr. A. E. Juil pointed out that the meeting had been * called in order that the producers of the province should get together with the idea of forming a policy for handling their produce through the port of Napier. It was common knowledge 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 at 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 a general meeting of all concerns would be decidedly beneficial to the community and to the province. It was patent to all that centralisation to the larger ports was a force which had to be fought. Centralisation had taken place in other countries to the detriment of producers and public in general. Mr. Jull then moved “that this meeting affirms that the present system of a flat rate of freight for exports from the Dominion has proved to be advantageous to the Dominion, and we sincerely trust that its abolition will not be brought about.” The motion was carried unanimously, after which the meeting went into committee. Following the <discussion a committee of all interests was set up to watch events and act if it considered necessary.