WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

THE RAILWAY Fit El 01 ITS. •

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELI.I NGTOX, -lime 20. One of the most pathetic features ol the increase in railway freights is that , the rates on frozen mutton ami beef are being raised. AY hen the -Meat Hoard came into exi-tence in Ifl-- one of the first eoneession. that it secured was a reduction in railway freights. -And v< -|,.ii a miii" was made of this. The saving to the uttermost farthing was counted and the Hoard proclaims us remarkable achievement from the house tops. Indeed that concession alone seemed to warrant the lancy salaries that were being tl’.rown about. Neither the Hoard nor the Minister for A»rieuliure would have it that it was a political concession to bolster tip an 0n,,, ideally unwarranted organisation sucli as the a I eat Control lioaid. A callous Hailway Hoard now views the matter purely I roll', its economic a.s----per-t and the rate on IToxcii mutton V*! .i: i: under the political concession was reduced to Hi per cent, a hove the nre-war rate is now raised to -10 per i ...... I■! i in-

cent, above the pre-war rate. In tiefending this new rate the Hallway Hoard says: “ The time lias come when the department cannot fairly be called upon to continue relieving the meat industry of its proper contribution to the department's revenue, more-espec-ially as the department is without question, in more urgent need of rebel than the meat industry." With respect to frozen hoof and prime cattle, the rates were reduced by 2b per cent, in 1022. and the concession then made is now withdrawn. It is claimed that a I the time the concession was madeprime beef for export was :).7.»d per > ! >. while- at present it i- about bd. all increase of about M and a third per cent. The increase on timber freights •is also causing a stir among the members of the timber combine. I.egally this Ts not a combine be.t a federation, hut like most such oty.ansiaiions its main purpose is to keen up prices. It is claimed that the limber industry is none too nourishing but this is open to grave doubt, at all events investors in shares have made timber shares very strong favourites. In dune hist- . year, Kauri Timber shares were quoted at 20s (Id, and they are now quoted at, 33s ; l.oylnnd-o'Brien Timber - Imres year ago stood at -12 s. buyers arc now olfering o-'ts (at, ami National Timber Shares have risen from 21s C-d to 22s lid. All timber companies appear to he doing well and the.shares hold . .. . 1

;i Vf*rv SIiUMJJ, All this does not warrant the statement that the industry is none ton nourishing. An elfnrt will mi doubt bo made to pass on the increased freight, and that ’.'ill lead in larger importations of foreign timber and the greater Use of concrete. It is a puv that some action js not taken to bring about, a reduction in the price oi cement. To do this, however, it would he necessary to lower the Customs duty mi imported cement. WELLINGTON'S CAKNIYAI. WEEK. ['util a couple ol years ago W cllington, although boasting of the title of the Empire C'itv ol the Dominion—unlike Auckland, Christchurch and Dune- , din—had never made any move to- j wards holding an annual carnival in - order to attract visitors to this centre. | { As the result of the elfoils of a few energetic citizens a Wellington Show Association was formed, and in conjunction with the Industrial Association. a Winter Show was held last year, which was the principal attraction for whai is in future to lie known us “Welcome Week.” This was sii.-li a pronounced success bntn popularly and . . • ! 1 il M : L I . 1 .... 1 I #i<W-I 111 M I {I)

financially that it has been ''f illed to icnke it an annual event, and the sur|ilus from cat'll year's Slimy is to form a fuml with which to acquire n permanent show ground and equip it with ill.. necessary buildings. Last rear some of the Wellington 11 :irln.iir Hoiini's shed-, were secured for the ishihition. and lor the forthcoming Carnival I lie Use of the new Pitmen Slieti has heen granted, and as l his line stnieture covers over Si,(III!) square IV.-t of ground this should provide plenty of aceoiinnodalion. The Carnival this yenr will he open from -July HO. ui August Id, which will include n part, of tty time that the American Fleet win he in tiie harbour. I his siioidd ensure a very large attendance of visitors fro in the country to V. elhugtoii. The competitive sections in the Winter Show will include fat stock, milking trials, factory hilt Lor and cheese, home industry and classes lor school children, including a forestry section for which the Wellington timber merchants have donated a shield which will he held each year by the school winning it. Ihe Society has also received a handsome silver cup from .Messrs Deakins, Francis, and Co., ol hoiulon. through .Messrs .Matthews and Co., of Wellington, to he allotted as tie i oniinittoe thinks fit. In the Show itself and the Industrial Exhibition, there will l.e a very comprehensive collection of ho til the primary and secondary industries of the Dominion, as well as sections for motor-ears, and agricultural and dairying machinery. These exhibits should serve to impress the American visitors as to what New Zealand can produce. In i minedion with the Show there will he Hunters’ competitions ami Sheep Dog Trials on a suitable ground. Entries for all elas-.es close on duly 11,