SHIPOWNERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10474, 13 August 1925, Page 6

SHIPOWNERS' UNION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Shipowners' Union was hem fast night/Mr B. R. Guinness presid--IDliie annual report stated that the membership was apP r o X imately_ttie same as last year There had been a slight reduction, which was due to deaths and slump conditions, several StaKn having sold out.their properties during the year. The executive had £a careful watch over the interests of members in otters affecting the industry,, either ■P»i tlc »" y V commercially, or in f n «f» labour matters, and also with respect £ research work in any direction Constant touch had been kept with "the Meat Control Board throughout the year, and the moderate policy Adopted by the board had benefited thefflustry. The creation of aboard to continue the work of the old New Zealand Wool Committee had been successfully accomplished. The board £l Sen appointed with a view to ensuring that the offerings of wool were not in excess of the number of bales which could be handled and properly viewed by buyers in the various wool stores in each selling centre The present board had power to limit offerings of wool should it deem it necessary to do so in the interest of wool growers. Following on the suggestion from Australian wool-growers that New Zealand should join in a scheme which it was proposed to ask Sir John Higgms to formulate with a view to the stabilisation of values and more efficient marketing. Mr B. E. H. Tripp and the secretary attended a conference in Melbourne in order to ascertain whether it would be in the interests or New Zealand sheepowners for the Dominion to be included in any scheme which might be approved in Australia ior the purpose. The conference had been .attended merely to obtain nrstTiana information. The balance-sheet showed that the .subscriptions totalled £llBO 8s W. and fthe casli in hand amounted to ifcoyo 7s lid. . . .. In speaking to tne motion for the adoption of the report Mr F. V\. Johnston said .with regard to the stabilisation of wool values he thought that the various schemes had approached the matter on wrong lines. It was necessary that the weak holder should be protected.. It was no good setting a false price, but the proper way to protect the weak holder was to form a strong company which could on the market and prevent the wool of weak holders depressing prices. Mr B. Tripp said the suggestion made by Mr Johnston was much on the same lines as the scheme put forward bv Sir John Higgms. This scheme involved a capital of 50 millions for Australia. 12J millions for New Zealand, and 15 millions for South Africa. The scheme was a good one, but he could not advise members to adopt the control scheme. If it were adopted the Government would bave to guarantee the capital and this would mean similar demands in connection with butter and meat. Statistics should be collected from all wool producing countries, because at present the committee was working almost in the dark. The market reports sent out to New Zealand were inspired by Bradford, and from them it was sometimes hard to say whether wool was selling at Is or 2s. The' following officers were elected: —President. Mr E. R. Guiness; vicepresident, Mr R. M. D. Morten; committee, Messrs H. Acton-Adams, N. D. Campbell, Hugh Ensor, G. Fulton, Ir. It. C. McFarlane, T. Masefield, E. Hav. A. J. Murray, J. F. Macfarlane, M. Bethel, D. L. Rutherford. H. E. Jessep, R. B. Neill, G. 0. Rutherford, H. Elworthy, J. D. McCrackeu* Geo. Murray, W. Hanmer-Atkinson, P. Acton-Adams, D. G. Wright and G. B. Grigg; hon. treasurer, Mr E. Hay; auditor, Mr A. McKellar. It was decided to request the executive to ask the Government to alter the time for furnishing wool returns from April to June. It was decided, to apply to the Government for permission to pay deposits on telephone bureau accounts eo that the inconvenience of monthly accounts? would be avoided.