STEAMER SERVICE SUBSIDY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1930, Page 8

STEAMER SERVICE SUBSIDY

FARMERS’ ADVERSE OPINIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Though they retrained from passing a definite resolution without the fullest investigation, members of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union t '-day affirmed their previously expressed .opinions that the Government subsidy on the MelbourneBluff steamer service should be discontinued. They held that if there must be a subsidy Australia should pay it because the trade balance was all in her favour and Australia was closed to many New Zealand products. On' member said every ton of cargo exported by the service cost the country £1 in’addition to freight charges. Another member suggested ’tha.t New Zealand might use the subsidy as a lever to prize open Australian ports tp this Dominion’s produce. After hearing the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, who said that the chamber xias deferring decision until it had discussed the question with Dunedin representatives at the annual conference next month, the meeting decided to defer a decision until the Chamber of Commerce had had further opportunity of investigating.