FREIGHT ON FROZEN MEAT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 6

FREIGHT ON FROZEN MEAT

INCREASES ANNOUNCER PROTEST BY WAIRARAPA SHEEP-BREEDERS By Teletrranh.— Special Corresnondent. Masterton, February 18. “Please note that, instructions have been received from the Imperial Government through the medium of the London Tonnage Committee that, it has been found that owing to the of cut c/cs the rates of freight at present £ing charged are not sufficient to reimburse the Imperial Government, and it is neceiary re charge the following rates of freight for private meat, beginning with Jac group of steamers to be allotted for Alarch loadingßeef, pork, veal, boned beef, and sundries in crates, 1 15-16 d. per lb. net; mut’Jon and tegs, 2Jd. nep lb. net; lamb, sundries in bags shoulders, legs, end pieces. -5-16 d. per lb. net rabbits. 18fe. per ton “ea sure ' ment net. These rates will also be applicable to steamers to be allotted aS idie April group. These rates will not apply io c.i.f. sales already effected by freezing companies, which will be carried at the following rates:—Beef, ltd., plus 10 per cent.; mutton and tegs, lid., plus 10 per cent.; lamb, 2d., plus 10 per cent.; rabbits, 1755. per ton measurement, plus 10 per cent. It is necessary that you should hand to this committee a list of c.i.f. sales effected by you to ciate*”

The above letter from the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee to the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Co. wn« read to the farmers assembled at the rani fair to-day by Air. A. D. At'Leod, ALP. Few of them realised what it meant to themselves individually and to the meat companies, isaid Air. At’Leod. A rise of Jd. ner lb. meant On increase of Is. per mutton carcass. It was well known that under the contracted prices meat was sold for less than could have been readily obtained in the open market. TVhy had not the Imperial Government raised the price instead of allowing New Zealand farmers to be losers? He moved: “That this meeting of Wairarapa sheep owners protests against the recent increase in freights on frozen meat made by- the London Tonnage Committee, and asks the Prime Minister to make the strongest protest possible in the proper quarters against such increase.”

Sir TT’alter Buchanan seconded the motion. He said that for 17 years preceding the war he had spent considerable time on the question. The position would be very much better if breeders themselves knew more about the freights charged on their meat. He had asked one breeder if he knew what the charges were on a bullock he sent, and the breederipaid he did not know. SirTValter Buchanan pressed him for an answer, and he replied: “About 245.” Few of them knew that it cost .£l3 to carry an 8001 b. bullock to London, yet that was not enough for the shipping combine. He pointed out that there was a slump in shipping values and freight the world over; ships were laid up in all directions. Yet this was not the case regarding the refrigerated shipping combine, which was backed up by the Imperial Government. They actually proposed to increase, instead of reduce, freights. Australian wheat was now being carried at a great reduction on the former rates. They must bring pressure on the Government to stop the iniquitous state of affairs. The shipping ring, under the wing of the Imperial Government, wanted their pound of flesh, and New Zealand farmers could not get justice. He could see no reason in the price of coal and labour why freights should be raised.

Air. Hugh Morrison, president of the TVairarapa Farmers’ Union, said, that if the extra freight were put: on it would mean a loss of from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per carcass of 601 b. Referring to the activity of the Farmers’ Union in tho matter, Air. Alorrison said that on Tuesday last he telegraphed to the secretary of the Dominion Executive. He had since received, information that a protest had been forwarded to the Government on the very day he had telegraphed, and that the executive was to be called together at the earliest possible moment. He made this statement because he- wanted to show that the Dominion Executive had taken immediate action ‘when it telegraphed to the 1 rime Alinister. • The motion was earned unanimously, and. it was arranged that a deputation should wait on Air. Massey to urge him to act spe'edily and effectively.