THE WAIRARAPA TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 5

THE WAIRARAPA TRADE.

A'N "ABSURD" ASSERTION. (By Tclecraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, September 27. In connection with the statement in tho "Wairarapa Ago" with regard to an alleged diversion of trade with Masterton from' Wellington to Auckland, which says, inter alia, that "through their masterly, inactivity the 'Mercantile.'-houses of Wellington are allowing muoh of the trade of the lower portion of the North Island to be diverted to Auckland," Mr. Jones, of Sargood, Son, and Ewen, says that so far as his firm is concerned the Dominion is divided into clearly-marked districts, each under the control of a branch house, and all orders sent up from 'Masterton '-woiil'd. in due' course'be forwarded to the Wellington house,; which . would deal with them. As far' as he knew, other houses having ..branches .followed.' the same .rule, and in any case it was unlikely that many orders would come from the Wairarapa, owing to the much greater distanco ns compared with .that from Masterton to Wellington.

Mr. S. J. Nathan,' of A. H. Nathan, Ltd., said that the assertion appeared to him absurd upon tho face of it. Anyone looking at the'map would see that it was absurd to suggest that tho business people of Masterton would prefer to get their goods from Auckland. The -distanco to Wellington was under a hundred miles, and even considering tho steep grades it should be covered in about four hours. On tho other hand, ho estimates that goods would tako two days, perhaps three, to reach Masterton. from Auckland, longer, in fact, than it 'would take to convey them to Wellington. Two chantres at Palmerston. North and , Woodville would be necessary, and in face of all this ho questioned whetlm- Auckland could ever enter into, competition with Wellington VJ 1 ' «■* "'airarapa trade. In conclusion, Air. Nathan remarked that it would bo incorrect to describo the condition of Wellington mercantile houses as one of masterly inactivity." Ho was convinced that they, were as active as anyone could desire, and he was equally sure that there had been no diversion of trade, especially in.the case of largo firms with branches m all tho large- centres. '