LOW PRODUCE FREIGHTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 207, 1 September 1932, Page 3

LOW PRODUCE FREIGHTS

SHIPMENTS FROM DOMINION. QUEST FOR NEW MARKETS. ORIENT AND AMERICA. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this dayv. Recent criticism of the operations of the Dairy Produce Board's administration costs was answered by Mr. W. A. loins, chairman of the board, who said in an interview to-day tliat during the last four years the board's costs had been reduced by 17 per cent, despite an increase of a similar percentage in the quantity of produce exported. The farmer had his produce shipped at a lower cost to-day per pound of butter and cheese than for the last 15 years. There was no doubt, said Mr. lorns, that iast year the board expended £53,000, although it received only £41,000 from the levy, but most of that expenditure was non-recurring. There was.no indication-that the board would require to increase the levy. If any increase were made it would be used solely for advertising overseas. Referring to the , development of markets the chairman said the board was up against tariff walls everywhere. In the East another difficulty was the lack of a direct shipping service. Moreover, the tariff , imposed on Eastern products entering New Zealand militated against facilities for the regular interchange of cargo. The difficulty of securing suitable shipping facilities greatly hampered the board's activities in the Eastern market. However, if a direct service were started by the Osaka Maru Line, in which vessels would leave Auckland monthly, it was hoped that other industries would make use of the facilities to assist in building up a satisfactory freight to warrant a regular time-table. Concerning the markets of Canada and the United States, Mr. lorns said the efforts to cultivate these in past years had been countered by tariffs. It wae not known whether any reciprocal agreement between Canada and New Zealand had been developed at Ottawa, but attempts had been made to open up a market in the Panama Canal zone. Some butter had been sent there, but the territory came within the scope of the United States Customs regulations. Produce sent there for re-export to the British Honduras and other Empire territory adjacent, and, to the Latin States, could not escape these regulations.