DISTRIBUTION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 5

DISTRIBUTION OF NEW ZEALAND.

PRODUCE. TO THF. EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —" Cassandra" displays a good deal of feeling in regard to Mr Henry Gray's recent proposals for dealing with our produce in London. lam not at all surprised—he is evidently interested in the present system. We shall hear a good deal more upon this question l>efore it is settled. To my mind Mr Gray is the only man that has taken a common sense view of the matter. He has had experience, having been six years manager for one of the principal firms in Tooley street, and he fearlessly expresses his opinion. He knows that the time has arrived for altering the method of distribution, and knows also he has a power behind the throne to support him. " Cassandra " asks if "it is the want of legitimate private enterprise that is causing Governmental action." I think I may safely' inform him that the Government has been made aware of the loss the colony is sustaining through the actions of influential men and Companies, who chiefly conduct the present method of distribution —a method or. system that has nothing to be said, in its favour but, on the contrary, a great deal that may be said against it. I have called it a " system," but there really is no system. The shipping and freezing Companies do much as they like, and if any reform is suggested they concentrate their forces and do as they did in Wellington last year, at the Frozen Meat Conference — object to reform or permit present arrangements to be altered in any way. They consider the system of their own building cannot be improved upon. It is for this reason the Government has appointed Mr Gray in the interests of producers, and I am glad to believe that we are on the eve of a radical change. "Cassandra" writes a lot of nonsense about playing into the hands of Socialists. I suppose he means the present Government. If such proves to bathe case, then I say that he and those who act with him are responsible.— Yours, Sec, Anti-Humbug. September 10th, 1896.