STEAMERS FROM CANADA

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1929, Page 11

STEAMERS FROM CANADA

PROTEST TO THE MINISTER

CHANCE OF STARTING SERVICE.

AVOIDING THE “ARBITRARY” DUTY

The possibility of Canadian Government steamers from Montreal including New Plymouth in their itineraries was mentioned by Mr. Gordon Fraser at the meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night. The matter was referred to the shipping ccmmittee of the chamber to frame a letter to Canadian National Steamships setting out the advtantages of New Plymouth as a trading port. Mr. Fraser said' that during the weekend an unofficial visit was paid to New Plymouth by Mr. F. Wood, general managed of the Canadian National Steamships and Railway Service. He had been very much impressed with the port and seemed to think the trade warranted the ships coming here from Montreal, thus starting a new service. Mr. Fraser said he thought that in this way it might, be possible to secure delivery of Canadian cargo at New Plymouth without the imposition of the “arbitrary” rate of three dollars a ton.

Ho urged the chamber to obtain' the co-operation of all importers in asking Mr. Wood to remove the three dollar rate that was being imposed by Other companies, and thus place New Plymouth on the same basis as the Other main ports. Mr. Wood had said he would return to New Plymouth before sailing home, if possible. Mr. Fraser thought the chamber should send a let-, ter of encouragement to Mr, Wood. Mr. W. C. Weston had told him that if the ships came here he would import all his paper by them. Mr. T. .C. List said he could import .350 tons of paper a year from Montreal.

Mr. Fraser suggested there might bo a possibility of the ships taking butter back with them if the Dairy Produce Board would centralise its Canadian allotments at New Plymouth for return cargoes. Mr. J. A. R. McGregor said there was a likelihood of the ships obtaining quite good cargoes for Taranaki, while Mr. J. McLeod considered cargoes of 1000 tons might be brought for New Plymouth.