BUTTER EXPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 112, 4 February 1908, Page 2

BUTTER EXPORTS.

AM AUCKLAND COMPLAINT. DIRECT STEAMER SERVICE'.WANTED. When butter for export l from- Auckland to London is taken out of told stores at tho 1' armors' Froezing Works 'and railed to Onehunga for transhipment to Wellington (telegraphs our Auckland corrospoudent) a pcculiai position arises. -Tho'boxes are brought down from the freezing chamber into railwav trucks at the siding m front of the works, and tho freezing company takes a tally. Tho butter stands in tho trucks all night, and is railed .in tho morning; and .between tho time tho .-trucks are loaded and tho time they aro discharged at tho ship's s'ido the freer,ing ooinpauy takes no responsibility, tho railway will accept none, tiio exporters will not .near pi being, responsible, and tho shipping company , says it .is not responsible either! JJilis, it boxes aro missing when the boat's nold is opened at' Wellington, no one knows where those boxes aro. As ono'prominent shipper put it, " the entire shipment micht disappear in tho night Iron) the.trucks,/and wo would have to quarrel all round as to who would stand the loss." This trouble led to a meeting ot repre-SMiiat-ivos of tho exporters, the Union Steam kblp Company, the Railway Department, and the li reezmg Company on Friday, when, as a side issue, ihe import-ant subject of direct shipping between Auckland mid London camo up for discussion. Mr. Van Veen said the whole unsatisfactory business was a big argument for a direct Here in Auckland the biggest liners could Ho alongside tho cool stores, and yet butter was railed over to Ouehunga to acoastal boat for Wellington, and often spoiled in transit. kong'-sct- (A. S. Paterson ami Co., ypaxf, Savili and Albion Co. agents):'l- don't' tnink thero is auy spoiled., .Mr .'Van Veen': It stands to reason it gets '-spoiled.. 'There must .be defrosting taking place. - ' . .. - . "•; . . Mr. Longuet said that as soon as the'ship-piiig-companies could seo their way clear, tliey would p.ut on tho direct service. It was only a question of the volume of trade.' If, shippers were prepared to sacrifice tho fortniglltly shipments and .have monthly shipments the direct service could be put on now./ Personally, he thought tho fortnightly ser'-' vice was the main thing. I llr. Van Veen: 1 don't Say'send all tho vessels clirect from Auckland/ Let us load tlie vessels hero before'they leave for-Wel-lington, or let, them depart from here for London. ... ' Mr. Longuet: It is not possiblo to do that. However, we aro bringing • tho. matter repeatedly b'oforo tho principals. ' ■ < Mr. Van Veen: Wo are very glad to hear tho agents are with us. . Longuet: Wo hard.to recognise that \\ elhngton is a central' port, and'it is far ■moro . reasonable to cohcentrato tho butter thero than, to havo Otago butter .sent up litre.