PAPER COMBINE

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14133, 9 August 1919, Page 7

PAPER COMBINE

COMPLAINT FROM AUSTRALIA

UNJUST PROFITS EXTOILKD

(United Press Association.) Received August 8, 7.:i0 p.m. MELBOURNE, AugustJV, A deputation from the Provincial Press Association has asked the Minister of Customs for relief from the operations, of the. paper-producing combine said to exist in the United States and Canada. The deputation suggested that news printing paper be admitted free, or if taxed, it should not be above five per cent, and in any case no preference should he granted to Canadian paper until a searching inquiry is made into the methods of the' American-Canadian combine in cornering shipping and extorting unjust profits. It is stated that the American paper combine, which has established itself in Canada, controlled the whole freight l'nos to Australia and was exacting profit on paper fully 100 per cent above the pre-war figures. The Minister assured the deputation that the Government would no nothing to play into the hands of the combine.

In connection with the above cable, it may be stated that the New Zealand rewspap-.r proprietors are similarly situated, their supplies being drawn from the same source and they are suffering from the same disabilities.