FREIGHT CONTRACTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 185, 4 May 1936, Page 9

FREIGHT CONTRACTS

London Conference This Month NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES. Negotiations are to be held in London shortly regarding freight contracts for the carriage overseas of New Zealand’s refrigerated produce, including butter, cheese, meat and fruit. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, on Saturday said the Dominion's ease would be presented by the High Com* missioner, Sir James Parr, Dr. R. M. Campbell, economic adviser to the High Commissioner, Mr. H. E. Davis, Loudon manager of the Dairy Board, Mr. J. Begg, a member of the Meat Board, who was now on his way to London, and Mr. R. Forsyth, London manager of the Meat Board. The New Zealand delegates. Mr. Savage continued, would confer with representatives of the overseas shipowners. The conference would probably be held this month. The Prime Minister said that as yet there had been no suggestion of immediate developments arising from the fact that both the Danish and Argentine trade agreements with the British Government would expire this year. The Dominion was vitally interested in the position, but the possibility was that nothing would be done until the whole matter was discussed at the Imperial Conference next year. Mr. Savage also expressed the hope that after the Imperial Conference New Zealand would be able to keep a representative in London to deal fully with all problems of marketing as they arose. Flying trips lo London and patchwork agreements made by Ministers were only temporary expedients. What was needed was a conscious attempt to get down to realities. It might be necessary for some person in antho* rity representing the Dominion to remain in England for a lengthy period, but if a solution to the problem could be found in that manner it would be well worth while.