THE SHIPPING WAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12479, 16 April 1906, Page 5

THE SHIPPING WAR.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND R ATI'S.

(SPECIAL TO "THE THESS.'") DUXEDIX, April 14. Mr L3 - 6nar, Chairman of the Gisbonio Farmers' Union and Director of the Gisborne Frozen Meat Company, tcid & "Times"' reporter that the present freight war is likely to benefit the farming community. Our produce, he say?, should bo c.irriod to the London market on ot least, as favourable ternie as thoso at present obtaining for Australian produce. For a considerable time now tho producers of this colony have been seriously handicapped in this respect. Mr Lysnar is of opinion that the freezing and dairying companies in New Zoaiand made a mistake in making cont;act<s ahead lor the next frix years. It was in the interests of the shipping companies to keep out oppofition, while it was in the interests of the community to have froo and opt'n competition. He admits that the present tteamor service is regally a good one, anil it would not ho advisable to iwvii cut-throat competition, but it was e-i-onti.-il that fivignt rates from New Zealand should l>o reduced to a level with those charged on prodnca froih the Commonwcaltn pom. If his oompa?i.y Imd paid on tho l>asia of Australian freights instead of the**. , charged in this colony, the compiiny would have sa\od £13,Ut)0 on tlw year's (-hipmenth to London, ami on actual meat shipments on his own account over the fame period, he would have paved i'lßo for the year. He ventured tos-ay if tho nates were the same os t.Wt.' ruling in Austmiia the looses shown on thi' year's operations by some freezing works in the colony would be turned into profit. If" the difference amounted to £13,000 on the year's ■transections of a comparatively 'small concern like tho Gi.'borne Work?, what would it, amount to on the year's output of a largo concern like tho Canterbury Meat Company? In fairness to the shipping companies, ho. pointed out that since tho above figures were arrived at freights here were reduced onesixteonth of a penny a Ib, which made, ■a saving of over £1300 to tho Gisbarne Company, but still the rates there were higher than in Australia.

On Saturday we published from our Dunedin correspondent a. number of reasons adduced to explain why frieghts from Australia to the United Kingdom arc lower than those from New Zealand. Ono very important factor, however, wae omitted, namely, that while the- Australian steamers are able to get coal at about 10s a ton, f.0.b., in Sydney Harbour, New Zealand steamers have to pay from 18s to 20s a ton.