SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 186, 11 September 1914, Page 10

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

THE EXPORT OF SEEDS. '•'Undoubtedly the present combination of the different shipping companies, both foreign and intercolonial, is a serious handicap to the producers of New Zealand, besides having a serious effect on the New Zealand export trade generally, '' remarked a local grain merchant, who is largely interested in the export business, to a SUN representative. " Mr D. Jones was quite right in ventilating the matter at Wednesday's meeting of the Farmers' Union, as it vitally affects farmers' interests. It is generally supposed- that meetings of the representatives of the different shipping companies are held 'in camera,' and freights are mutually agreed upon amongst themselves. Opposing shipping companies does not necessarily mean opposition in the rate of freights. Merchants are also penalised to a very great extent by the erratic manner in which the 'combine' arranges freights. Usually forward selling to England takes place in January or February for March-May shipment. "In working out costs,, freights are based on the previous year's rate, and probably 5/- per ton is added to allow for the vagaries of the 'combine.' Should the crops and forward sales be likely to prove heavy, the freights are not advanced 5/- per ton, but I have seen them advance from 15/- to 35/per ton. This, of course, robs the merchants of all profits, lessens the price paid to the grower, and places a serious check on forward' selling in the future.. It is the continual altering of the rate from month to month that hampers business, as well as the high rate. Freights should be arranged for six months —say, in January and July—then shippers would have something definite to work on. "New Zealand is particularly well adapted for growing seeds, and more especially garden peas for export to England, but there is a great difficulty in securing space, say, in January-Feb-ruary-March, so as to reach England for their spring sowing, which, under present arrangements they seldom do. Thousands of sacks of grain and seeds are held in store, awaiting the pleasure of the shipping companies' loading instructions. This produce should be turned into gold earlier in the year, but under the present conditions it has to lie in store until about June —that is, when the meat shipments slacken, and grain is then wanted. "Another matter that requires drawing attention to is a clause inserted by the shipping companies in the bills of lading, to the effect that ' they will not be responsible in the event of loss for more than 20/- per sack.' Some grain and seeds are valued at twice this amount, but for some peculiar reason farmers and shippers have to accept this absurd clause.. More opposition is badly required, as valuable produce should not be held in store at this end, arid allowed to depreciate to a considerable extent simply for the want of better shipping facilities."