PRODUCERS' SHIPPING LINE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 10

PRODUCERS' SHIPPING LINE.

MR LYSNAR'S ADVOCACY, (sr«ciix. to "th» jeesb.") WEI/LINGTON, July 12. Speaking in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr "W. D. Lysnar, member for Gisborne, said the money saved to the producers by Scales, Ltd., in bringing ships to this country would represent many millions more than was sufficient to pay for the ships required by producers twenty times over. A short time ago, . he added, Messrs Scales brought in two boats for wool, ana this meant an immediate drop in wool freights of lis a bale. That was a quarter of a million straightaway in one hit. At the present rate of freight a 10,000-ton ship in the trade would pay with one-way loading, and have from £14,000 to £15,000 towards interest on capital. Mr Lysnar said he had heard- the Prime Minister talking about the losses made by State shipping lines in other countries. That gave no indication of what might be dones in New Zealand. What the producers should do was to secure about six ships, so that they could have a monthly service between England and New Zealand. These boats could not, of course, do all that was required, but their appearance would stabilise freights, and would lead to positive knowledge of what should be charged by shipping companies. iSix suitable ships could be got at a cost of under a million sterling. It would not be long before that sum would be saved in freights, and the producers would then have the six ships up their sleeves. If they had to tie up their ships in "Wellington harbour, it would not matter, so long as the shipping companies carried their produce at reasonable rates, said Mr Lysnar, who described the project as the best insurance producers could have, and the best thing for the Dominion generally. "I do not approve ef a. State snipping line," he said emphatically, "but I heartily approve of a producers' shipping scheme. He read and commented favourably on a former producers' shipping scheme proposal, and gave details of the apportionment of the capital proposed. The suggested allotment of capital was as under:— £ Meat and wool industry ... 150,000 Freezing companies ... 25,500 Flaxmillers 10,000 Total ... ... 257,000 "I approve of everything in the producers' scheme except the proposal for the State contribution," said Mr Lysnar. "While Ido not think a Government contribution is necessary, I think the Government should introduce legislation to secure to the State authority, to advance in one sum aa much as would, braised, by the producers in four years, recovering their advance in that period. Until such a thins ia done, the farmers, to my mind, will be the milch cow of the shipping companies of the world." BANKRUPTCY FIGURES. (krom A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLIN'GTON, July 12. During th© first half of this year, there were approximately 335 bankruptcies registered in.'the Dominion, as compared with 333 in the corresponding half of last year, and 128 in the first half of 1921. The ygures for each month are as follows: l

The principal contributors to the past half years' bankruptcies were as under:— '" , • Number Farmers ... .'.; 78. Laibourers ' ... , ... 30 Motor Trade ... ... 18 Builders ... ... 17 Hotelkeepera. ... ... 11 Carriers ... ... 10 .Agents ' ... ... 10 Contractors ... ... 8 The eight sections given above contributed more than half of the total bankruptcies for the half year. During the past® eighteen months there have been 278 bankruptcies of farmers and the procession-.of farmer bankrupts continues, for there were four bankruptcies during the first week of-this month. BARLEY GROWING. MARLBOROUGH ANXIETIES. (rsoic otra owr cobbbspohdeht.) BLENHEIM) July 10. The Blenheim branch of the Farmers' Union requested the provincial executive to investigate'vthe barley-grow-ing industry and the ,prices obtained therein, particularly in regard to the practice of growing by contract. Inthe executive's discussion, members expressed: the opinion that-it was for the growers to form an association to protect their own interests, and decide as to the merits of the contract system. It would be useless to ask the brewers to -abandon- the system, as ; they were out to make the best business deal. Mr Lissaman declared that when barley was 10s a bushel, beer was at the same price as it was to-day, with barlev at half the price. Someone was • getting the profit,, but certainly not the farmers. A Member: ''The Government is getting twice as much." Mr Lissaman said he had gathered that had contracts not been entered into this season, the price would have been 7s 6d a bushel. A Member: "I don't think so." Mr Lissaman said he believed this was the case. He had been assured that there was a shortage. Mr Neal viewed the brewery merger with apprehension, as a move that would give the brewers more power and make things harder for the fanners. Finally, it was agreed that there,was insufficient information to act , upon, and decided to refer the matter back to the Blenheim branch for further consideration. ■ R.S.A. CASH PURCHASE SCHEME. {■PBCIAL 10 "THI PMSS.") DUNEDIN, July 12. The Christchurch Returned Soldiers'. Association, realising the practq|al benefits of the cash purchase scheme instituted by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association, is calling a general meeting of members to consider the adoption of a similar scheme. Details of the Dunedin scheme, which has proved eminently successful, have been forwarded to the Christchurch Association.

1923 1S22 ■ 1921 No. No. No. January ... 49 31 11 February ... 56 43 14 March ... 73 , , ■■ 74 16 April ... 49* ... 62 ? 42 A7\ May 80 33 June ... 46 - 63 37 335 333 128