Freights Survey Result Awaited

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 6

Freights Survey Result Awaited

The results of a freights differential survey carried out by the Department of Industries and Commerce could not be released to the public or the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association till after the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) and the Associate Minister (Mr Shelton) returned from overseas, said the department’s acting secretary (Mr K. L. Press).

Mr Shelton would return from Japan in a few days and Mr Marshall would return about July 7. The freights differential survey was made, at the request of the association, on the association’s contention that freight costs from the South Island to the North Island, hampered the growth of South Island industries. Mr Press said that before the results of the survey could be released they would have to be submitted by one of the ministers to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, which initiated the survey, bad made a direct approach to Mr Holyoake for the survey. Because of this, the findings would have to be submitted to him.

Mr Press said the report had been submitted to Messrs Marshall and Shelton a few days before they left for overseas and neither had had time to study it.

At the monthly meeting of the association on Monday evening Mr R. G. Pearce said it was more than 15 months since the survey was initiated. The association will ask Mr Holyoake when the results will be made available to the association and the public.