WESTPORT SHIPPING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 851, 24 June 1910, Page 6

WESTPORT SHIPPING TRADE.

RESOLUTIONS by chamber of COMMERCE. (By TeleeraDh—Press Association.! • Westport, June 23. At a meeting of the Westport Chamber of Commerce to-night, the following resolutions were carried:—That tile control of the shipping trade at Westport results in: (1) Undue rates of freight' on coal to all ports of the Dominion; (2) thereby the coal industry of this district is seriously restricted, and much hardship influted on miners; (.1) that inward freight on foodstuffs of this community is 30 per cont. higher than it should be; (1) that the cost of travel is also unduly excessive; (5) the net result is that the coal consumers of the Dominion are heavily burdened and industry is hampered by an approximate undue profit of ,£53,000 a year on the cost of freight; (6) much of the trade is diverted to mines in the neighbouring colonies, and the development. of our own coalfields hindered; (7) the people of this district, under Clauses 3 and 4, are penalised to the extent of .£IO,OOO a year; (8) the combine controlling this port get undue concessions in port charges, and escape a fair contribution towards the. cost of the administration and upkeep of I lie port. It was resolved, therefore, that these contentions be laid before the Government with a respectful request that tho position bo inquired into, and some redress be granted if need be, by way of immediate legislation. It was resolved that the Westport Borough aiul Buller G'ounty Councils be asked to consider tho question of having a'special Act of Parliament passed with a view to allowing the councils to purchase the steamer trado between Westport and Wellington.