FROZEN MEAT AND WOOL FREIGHTS.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT AND WOOL FREIGHTS.

A. meeting convened by .the Amuri Sheep Farmers' Association was held on Nov. 9, in the Corn Exchange, to consider the questions of reduced freights on wool and frozsn meat to London and the obtaining of freEh marketß for wool, There was a large attendance, including Hon. J. T. Peacock and Mr P. Cunningham, as representing the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Mr J. D. Lance, M.H.8., was voted to the chair. He had not been able to be present at the meeting whioh was held at Waiau some little time back, but there were many gentlemen present who were. Since that time the Shipping Companies had reduced the rates of freight. They were all business men, and were not going to push the Companieß who were doing business for them into a corner. It was for them to say whether the reduction which had been made was a reasonable one or not. That, he took it, was the sole point they had to consider that evening, and upon that he, invited discussion. [Applause.] If they thought this was so, then they had achieved what they had been endeavouring to obtain for a year and a half.

Mr Andbhw Buthsbfobd said he found from the "Australasian" that greasy dumped wool was sent Home from Melbourne at one farthing and three-eigths of a penny per lb., whilst they were paying five-eighths of a penny. This, he took it, showed that they,.-were, paying some 100 per cent, more than, they did in Melbourne. The reason in this was, he thought, that here there was a shipping ring, and that the merchants' interest was not identical with rhosa of. the sheep farmer. -He found that two of the merchants were sharer holders in Shaw, Savill and Co. and the New Zealand Shipping Company, whilst there were ships coming here to whom their agents would not give a bale of wool. Shaw, Savill and Co. and the New Zealand Company were cutting each other's throats, and he had received a circular from their agents, Messrs Miles and Co., asking that they should give ; the New Zealand Shipping Company their wool as a local institution, but: they had been told that they would send their wool by the* cheapest line. Now, he. found that his agents had given every bale to the New Zealand Shipping Company, which he thought was -not right. If the New Zealand.Shipping Company had cut uhder Shaw -SavSl, then, of course, they, ought to the.'lwoolj but .that.had not. been done. He thought that they should get the Farmers' Ce-operative Association, if they would take them, to accept them and take their wool at a»still lower rate. than was now offered. He would, suggest that the meeting should be adjourned,, after discussion, until Wednesday evening, when the country people would be 'here; and then a Committee could be appointed to see if they-could get their wool carried at a lower rate than that now offered. The concession which.had been made had .been forced from the companies at the point of the bayonet, and the producers had' shown them that they were the masters of the situation, and not the merchants in Christchurch.; For,these reasons he thought they should vbe ,able to get their wool carried for three-eighths of a penny per lb, as well as the Australian sheep farmer. [Applause.] He would urge the postponement of the meeting, as many Timaru men would be up lor the show. [ Applause/] . Mr GBHBNWOoi) heartily supported the proposal of Mr Eutherford for the adjournment of the meeting. He thought that they would be able to dictate very advantageous terms for themselves, if they, offered from 60.Q00 to 80,000 bales of wool per year to any company who would cirry their wool. Let'them look at the breaking of the insurance ring, and then they would see that they had the power in their own hands, if they thought fit to use it. With regard to the competition 1 of the Biver Plate, owing to the climate and soil, the' wools from there could not compete with the best classes of New Zealand or Aus- ! tralian wools. They were harsher, and the | French buyers ..would not have them, as they would hot take dyes for the beßt I goods. If they only stuck to the higher grades of merino wool they need not fear for one moment the competition of the : Biver Plate wool. . He now begged to move the adjournment of the meeting. Mt JOES GBXa« Baidthat he had taken very great trouble to ascertain the evening on which they could get the' largest attendance, and he found that the general consensus of opinion coincided with his j that the best period was that evening. The Committee, if appointed, could work amongst the sheep-farmers on the show ground during the show and the racecourse during the races, thus ensuring a ! far larger co-operation. He thought they ! ought to congratulate them Helves on so j large a number of farmers being; brought j together to consider their own interests, as it was most difficult to do so. He f hoped this was the dawn of better things ' in this direction. He thought they should [weigh well the difficulty of getting together a better attendance than they had now. Mr Oitjveb said that, as speaking for Messrs B. Wilkin and Co., he might say that they had shipped.some 2000 bales of wool last year through Melbourne and Sydney to save money, and they had saved money for their clients to the extent of. 53 per bale. - He thought, however, that the New Zealand Shipping Company and Messrs Shaw Savill had met them pretty fairly. [Applause]. Mr Hoabb moved as an amendment— "That the gubjectrbe discussed, and a Committee appointed, and then the further discussion adjourned until Wednesday," Mr Mactabxanb seconded the amendment, which was carried. . Mr John Qbigq said that he quite see what they were going to do." He had come to express his agreeable surprise that all they had asked for had been granted by the Shipping Companies. If this had not been done he would have pointed out that it must be war to the knife between the : Shipping Companies y\A the producers, and that they must force their agents to go with them. But now the Shipping Companies had done all they could expect, and he did not think it would be wise for them to throw themselves on the mercy of outside freights. He could not but regard the establishment of direct steam communication with England as a great boon to the colony, and he did not think they should do anything to disturb the good feeling existing. There was ho doubt that the prices in Australia were low at the time

when all the wool was shipped, but they could not—considering the large amount of freightage trading to Australia, and the fact that a large amount of wool was always ready in the hands of the agents, expect that they could get their wool carried at the same termß as in Australia. [A Voice—" Why not ?"] Well, for one reason, they were a much smaller community; and there was no doubt in Melbourne alone—one centre—as much wool as came from ail New Zealand In New Zealand the steamers had to go from port to port to pick up the cargo. Therefore, he could not, for one, expect to have his wool carried at the same rate as the Australian wool-growers. No one had fought 1 the Shipping Companies more determinedly than ha had, but wnen they found that their carriers were going to meet them fairly, then he said, as fair men, let them work loyally together. Nothing raised his ire more than the ; scandsjlous agreement entered into between the Haalam Company and the Shipping Companies as regarded their frozen meat. But he said this, that there ;Waa no more cowardly thing ever done I than by the Shipping Companies, he did not say which, offering jEIO.OOO a year to i force them to send their, meat by no other vessels than theirs. If the Shipping Companies had not reduced their freights "they would have found that there would *not be a bale of wool or bushel :of grain sent by them. There was, no ; doubt, a very large increase of sheep to be !sect frozen to England, and the farmers mußt come forward and assist the Freezing and Jthe Shipping Companies , ;What they wanted to know now, was [whether the Companies could give them froom enough P It simply: meant this, that they must freeze their sheep or boil them idown. If they boiled them down they jwould see that the price of tallow was <lower now, than it had been for one hundred years. Thus, though the history of frozen mutton had not been a bright one, he thought they would yet get a fair price. Farmers must remember that by 'coming forward with frozen mutton they Hrould increase the value of what was left. "What he was afraid of was, that in June, July, August, and. September next they would not have tonnage enough to carry iaway their frozen mutton. [Cheers.] , In reply to Mr Rutherford, '" Mr Gbioo said that all who had read Mr Haslam's letter must see that he was defending a course which was indefensible. But while he did this, he said that it would not be wise for them to take in an Outside chance vessel, which would only come to them when they could not get any cargo elsewhere. Therefore, the Companies having granted all they could reasonably expect, they ought not to attempt - to' derange ■ a business which carried their cargo. -... Mr Euthbhfoed said that Mr Grigg had called these Companies scoundrels, and yet he stood up for them. ! Mr Gbigq said he had heard of this matter in December. In January the New Zealand Shipping Company telegraphed to London that they had nothing to do with it. . . '"■"._

: Mr Lbonabd Habpbb said he desired to say a word or two with reference to the rascally Shipping- Company spoken of by Mr Grigg. As regarded the frozen meat industry, Mr Grigg had led the meeting to infer that the New Zealand Shipping Company were parties to the contract made with the Haslem-Ball-Coleman Company. Now this was. not correct, as nothing of the kind had taken place.; What had occuned was this. The: Board of Advice at Home, who were not, he desired to point out,-the Managing Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company, telegraphed out to the Directors here a proposition made by the Haslam Bell-Coleman Company with regard ton royalty. The Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company, composed, aa tbey were, of local men, replied promptly, declining to have anything whatever to do it, and now the New Zealand Shipping Company with regard to this matter were exactly jn- the, same ..position as Company, of iwhich Mr Grigg was a Director, in that they could not use the freezing machines of the com-, pany spoken of without the payment of a royalty. Therefore he'thought they would "allow —even Mr Grigg would do that — some credit to the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company for declining to have anything to do with the proposal ap made to them. Now as to the question of freights. The New Zealand Shipping Company was., started, as a local' institution was . started, to meet the demand for freights from the wool, wheat, and meat producers; and it was only to be expected that the sheepfarmers and the farmers would have come forward and taken shares in it/ Yet they fcund that this waa not so. Even Mr , Grigg, who was one of their largest sheep and general farmers, had none. .The New Zealand Shipping Company had. done a great deal for the colony, as they must all admit, andhad proved of great, service to it. A year ago, when wheat was abundant, and the Ccmp&ny had more coming forward than they could carry, and when they could have raised the freights 10s per ton, they had kept them at the ordinary rates, because they desired fairly to meet the wheat producing part of the community as well as the wool and frozen meat industries. The N.Z. Shipping Company had struggled through adversity into a position, and he thought there was no one inthe community in fairness who-could Tefuse-to send hia j produce by it at ordinary freights. In the interests of the colony the Company had done much, and he think it. was fair for that meeting to Btigmatise it as had been done. *. Mr GBiia eaid that the whole truth of the matter was this—that both Companies in London were-guilty up to a certain point; and that Tooth Companies entered into an agreement with the Haslam Company. The arrangement was made as much by the .Shipping" Company as Shaw, Savill and Co,and the agreement was signed by the latter but not by the former. It was no use bamboozling them, because they were too poor to be bamboozled; and he asked the Shipping Companies to sink special pleading. 'They knew aa much about the matter as the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Mr Habpis said that as lie bad stated the head office of the Heir Zealand Shipping Company was not, as "with the "Shaw, Savill Company in London, but here, and when the agreement waa submitted to the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company they declined to enter into it. ■Mr Gbigo Baid it was not to be supposed for one -moment that tne Shaw, Savill Company would have entered into this agreement if the New Zealand Company or their representatives, athome had not done

80. 7 !Mr W. J. OLLTyxB thought thejdiscus-! sibn had taken -long enough-, on-frozen mutton, and he would ask'the meeting to return to the subject of wool. He had been interviewed by several nockowriers as to the shipment of their wool. Mr Grigg - for one, and he would like to see the proposed Committee appointed. . The Chaibman pointed out that the froznn meat question and that of the wool were so intimately connected that it was impossible to separate them. ' Mr 1 GBKgN'woop- said that the question was, whether-they were satisfied with tiie reduction the Shipping Gompanies had made? He, for one, was not, and he believed that they could get*better teims yet by eo-Operation. Mr Btjthskfobd said both questions of meat and wool .were mixed up together,; and they could, not divide them. He did not think there would be much difficulty in getting- their wool freights reduced to of a penny; but then came the question of the freight on the meat. ■ In reply to a question from the Chairman, ■ . Mr Gbebnwood said he would prefer to see some older colonial move a resolution to the effect that the reductions made by the shipping companies were not satisfactory. He would also suggest that they should form a wool growers* and mutton producers' association, with head quarters in > Christehurch, and with a permanent Secretary to look after their interests, Mr Davidson waa in:hopes that; a middle course might, be found by the appointment of » Committee to see what terms'could be got for the carriage of their meat and wool. Perhaps tiie Shipping Companies had reached their limit, as sug.

gested by Mr Grigg, but the Committee could easily find this out. Mr Buthk&fobo said .that he had heard that there were persons ready to take up their business and provide ships at a lower rate than that offered by the Companies. He would support the appointment of a CfcTmhlflee.

The following gentlemen were elected sb a Committee—Messrs J. D. Lance, J. Grigg, a. Butherford, Greenwood, P. Cunningham, Davidson. C. Ensor, Brydone, J. B. Campbell, G. McKae, Corbett, and J. Maofarlane, to report to an adjourned meeting on Thursday, at 8 pan. Mr Hoabb moved—" That the objects of the Committee be to eonaider what etepa shall ba taken to promote the interests of producers of wool, mutton, or other commodities, by tiie securing of the reduction of freight and other charges." This was seconded and agreed to. A vote of thanks to tiie Chairman terminated the proceedings.

The adjourned meeting of sheep farmera to consider the reduction of freights ou wool and meat was held at the Corn Ex-

change on Nov. 12. Mr J. D. Lance preisided. There was a good attendance of .farmers.

The Chairman referred to the duties whioh devolved upon the Committee which had been appointed. He said the time at their disposal had been short, as they had been busily engaged in other matters as well as this, the importance of which the whole Committee did not underrate. They felt they had not had sufficient time to give justice to tiie question before them, but there waa one thing they were very strong about, and that was that a Wool-growers' Association should be formed in Canterbury or the colony, for the purpose of considering the questions connected with the wool-growing interests, frozen meat, and so forth. Therefore Ihe Committee thought that it was desirable to form a woolgrowers' association, to be called the New Zealand Wool-growers' Association, with the object of binding together the wool growers, and having an Association to promote their interests in every way. Mr Cunningham, who had apologised for his absence, had drawn up a few rules, which the Chairman read to the meeting. If these were ap- j proved, he would wish to see all who were present becoming promoters. He had never yet been able to get unanimity from the farmers, but he hoped this time the opinion would be unanimous.

Mr J. Gbioo moved—" That the report as read be adopted as the basis of the Association."

Mr Campbell thought the basis was not wide enough. The Association should extend to all farmers.

: The Chaibman said the matter had been discussed, and the Committee had oome to the unanimous conclusion that the Association should first be confined to the pastoral interest. i In reply to a gentleman, who suggested the Association being called "Sheep Farmers" or "Pastoral," tbe Chaibman instancad Associations in Australia having the name " Wool-Growers." and to imitate them would be advantageous to the Association.

■ Mr Gbioo thought it would be better as an affiliated Association, to adhere to the name of a Wool-Growers Association. A wool-grower must be a mutton producer, would -be bound to look "after, .the interests of the sheep farmer. There was a deal to be said in of the same wool-growers. ;Mr Btjthkbfobd thought it would be difficult to define who was a sheep farmer.

' MrGsioa did not think the question should be raised.

- Mr Buthebfobd asked whether all who had wool to export would be admitted ? ;Mr Gbioo and the Chaibman replied that such would be admitted.

Mr Ho abb said it was more a question as to the nature of the business than the name of the Association. :Mr Gbisq said the proposals submitted pointed cut the nature of the business. What the meeting had to do was to decide whether the proposals should be adopted : Mr Campbill still stood by his objection t<i the name " Wool-Growers." It would be thought outside that the wool-growers were squatters. These latter were fast dying out. He moved as an amendment—" That the Association. should be called the ' Farmers* Association.'"

'Mr Paqb thought if the proposal to call it a Wool-Growera'Association were carried there would be too great a distinction between squatters and cockatoos. <Mr Hoabe BUggestedlhe name "Farmers and Wool-Growers."

!Mr Paqh thought the "Producers' Protection Association" should be the name. .. j Mr Camfbhll agreed to the title being j the "New Zealand Wool-Growers* and Farmers' Association." ;Mr Pack would second this, but thought it would not be an acceptable title. A better title wonldbe " Wool-Growera' and Produce Association." Mr Hoabb Eeconded Mr Campbell's amendment which was lost. ; Mr Pass moved - his amendment for "Wool-growers' and Produce Association." Mr Gbioo seconded "the amendment, which was carried as " Wool-Growere* and Producers' Association." v : jMr Scbimoeodb moved-—" That the title should be' Wool and Agricultural Produce ■• £ Mr Pa«b Bald that Mr Grigg and himself would withdrawn in favor of it. *■ Mr Gbioo seconded Mr Scrimgeour's motion.

After some discussion it was eventually decided to call the Association " The New "Zealand Wool-Growers'- Association," and the rules as drafted were adopted, f The names were then taken of those present who would become members of the Association. , Mr Btjtotbtobd brought under the notice of the meeting the necessity which existed for every effort being used to prevent the increase in the scab, and urged upon the farmers to press upon their representatives to submit the matter to the Government for assistance. . Mr Mcßkth said that it only required attention to remove scab. MtClabkb observed that ihe Government were Bending: a man to inquire into the working of the Sheep and Kabbit A"ct. That gentleman, he understood, had been previously dismissed the service, and TO each an one they should offer objection. Mt Gbickj thought the AeßOciation should go farther than Mr Butherford wanted. It should do all in its power to have the sum which had been collected, supplemented by ' the Government, to eradicate scab. Money could be judiciously spent by the Government in this ■way/ , : ■ i _ >fr Buthbbvobd said that it was because the place did not have a clean certificate that the sheep could not be exparted to Tasmania and elsewhere. Mr Lanch explained what had been done by Parliament until scab had been reduced to a minimum. It was then .decided to purchase the sheep from the owners and destroy the ""'n*'", but when Sir Julius Togel, who had said the supplementary (estimates should not* exceed bo much, was asked for £3000 for this, object,.he could ■ftotHho It. The speakerbrought it before the House, the vote was passed, andhe had the Government's promise of assistance. If that failed, he would come to the Association to strengthen his hands with a resolution. At present there was no need for it. .-. In answer to Mr Clarke, the Chaibman explained what had occurred regarding Mr Sutton, and said he was astonished to ccc the announcement of hit appointment. ■' On the motion of Mr Campbsll, the Committee appointed at the previous mfeeting.was re-elected, with power to add to their number. ' ■" " JfiJ.D.Lanoe waa clacted President; MrJ. Grigg, Vica-Presidenti and Mr L. C: Williams, Secretary^