THE SHIPPING OF GRAIN. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8449, 23 March 1889, Page 3

THE SHIPPING OF GRAIN. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—ln your leaderette of yesterday's date you have a fling at Mr Harraway; in my opiniou, because you have not grasped what Mr Harraway wishes to convey. Had jou, like Mr H. and many others, shipped grain or any other produce to England, you would have understood the contention.

Most certainly New Zealand has lost millions by "shipping" (and here, Sir, you read " consigning") produce to England. What Mr H. would like to see established is a system of offering the " wares" (produce) for sale, but not to, send them away and allow unscrupulous brokers and grasping agents, yclept merchants in London, returning you for same what they think fit.

Why should the producers of wool, grain, &c, not be treated the same as our importers treat the English manufacturers and producers— i.t., sell their goods before parting with them, As statedbefore, had ycu been 3hipping you would sympathised with the unfortunate consignors. Mr H. opens up a very large question. I venture to say it would be of immense benefit to this colony if our producers would stand shoulder to shoulder and establish an agency in London or Melbourne or Sydney for the sale of their produce in New Zealand. Instead of shipping cargoes of produce, and receiving in return next to nothing {vide frozen mutton, frozen lambs, oats, barley, &c), let them send samples—standards—and sell from theso. One immense advantage would be, that the owuer would be on the spot and obtain fair play from the shipping companies and insurance companies. Possibly yourself and many of jour readers are not aware that a very large percentage is pillaged and another damaged, which the shipping companies, according to their bill of lading, should make good, but which under the "consigning" system never reaches the consignor.

If an English ship brings goods to New Zealand, and they have been pillaged or damaged, the owner calls a survey and speedily obtains compensation. If the same ship carries produce to England all deficiency is marked in the account sales, and the " damaged" with very low figures, but not a figure to denote compensation. Why? Because tho owner is many miles from tho spot. Au agency would inform the English speculator, broker, agent, distributor, contractor, or whatever he may call himself at what price he can get the New Zealand produce, and the agency will quote such prices as will compete with the rest of the world; but let it be sold before he puts his hands on it. The same thing applies to shipping to the colonies. Here the matter is righting itself. Consigning having proved so very disastrous, orders are now received aud goods sold before they are delivered. An agency in the colonies would be of immense benefit to our producers. The fact is we have too many agencies where they are not wanted, aud none where they are necessary.

Make inquiries from those who have tried consigning or shipping and you will find it borne out, and I trust that Mr Harraway will find time to enlishten you and your readers on thin very important question. Should you require any evulertce of the " slating " that shipping entails, I shall be happy (?) to place the documents before you. Di> all you can for the poor producer, Sir. When he is doing well there will bo no depression.—l am, &c, Match 22, Buffeheb,