“UNDERCUTTING PRICES"

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 201, 30 June 1939, Page 1

“UNDERCUTTING PRICES"

OPOTIKI COMPLAINT GISBORNE CARRIERS AUTHORITY’S ADVICE “Gisborne carriers are undercutting our prices,” stated’ Mr. \V. Hislop, secretary of the Opotiki Carriers’ Association, at a. sitting of tlie No. 1 Traii.s-p.oat. Licensing. Authority in Gisborne on Wednesday, when Mr. E. J. ’Phelan, who presided, suggested that the Opotiki and Poverty Pay Carriers’ Associations should get together and consider the position of their charges. “It is possible,” Mr. Phelan said, when Mr. Hislop mad© his complaint .of undercutting, “that you may be overcharging.” Mr. Hislop: The stock firms will not allow us to do that. Mr. Phelan: You had better get togetlrer with the local association on the matter. Jn connection with price fixation. 1 want try .say that we will not fix prices until you have been able to consult all the interested parties. We have to hei assured that you have taken, every precaution. There is no one better able toi fix the. charges than those who are interested, hut if you do not arrive at a settlement, then I will do it. Mr. Hislop added that Opotiki carrier had blazed the trail in regard to 1 stock traffic from the Gisborne district to the railhead at Taueatua, and) now the Gisb.orne carriers wished to take over the business. Mr. A. J. Stock, on behalf; of the Poverty Pay Carriers’ Association, submitted that, all Gisborne, carriers should have the right to cart between their own. district and the railhead. Mr. Phelan: Put not to pick; up anything in, between Opotiki and the railway. An application .for a. new license .on the Gisborne-Taneatua route for the purpose of carrying stock stated that more stock was being transported by lorries to the railhead, while those in opposition contended that there were sufficient operators on' the route at present. Decision on the application was reserved.