SHIPS AND FREIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 96, 23 April 1921, Page 6

SHIPS AND FREIGHTS

A CONTRACT APPROVED j PROPOSED SHIPPING BOARD. A meeting of the Standing Producers' Committeo was held in Wellington on Thursday. This committee is represent- ' ing the farmers of New Zealand in the ', negotiations regarding wool realisation, : freights, and .other matters. The committee had before it a. final draft of the freight contract proposed to bo made between the chipping companies and the freezing companies. The Producem' Conference approved of this contract being signed' for this season and next season at a rate that would represent a saving of about £135,000 a. year, as again6t the present rates. Since then a further, reduction has been secured that will mean a saving of about £250,000 to the producers. The Standing Committee approved of ilie contract, and the freezing companies are being notified accordingly. The committee discussed very fully the proposed mercantile shipping board, based on the detailed proposals submitted to and approved by the Producers' Conference on 31st March. Certain conclusions were reached, and these inclusions are to. bo placed in the hands of a sub-com-mittee in order that necessary detaile may be examined and elaborated. The eubcommittee will report to ths full committee at its next Meeting. Another point considered by the committee was the serious delay experienced by overseas steamers in discharging and loading at the main and coastal ports of the Dominion. Some interesting information was placed before the committee. It was shown that from Ist September, 1912, to 31st January, 1913, the time occupied in working thirty-nine steamers on the' N©w Zealand coast was 1406 days, equivalent to an average of 36.07 days per steamer.-, From let September, 1920, to 31st January, 1921, the time occupied in working thirty-six steamers was 1719 days, or an average of 47.75 days per steamer. This is an increase of 11.68 days per steamer, or 32 per cent., an-d represented a charge of about £5600 per steamer. The committee decided to make recommendations on this subject. > During the day the members of the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union, which wasmeeting at the.same time, met the Standing Committee, and engaged in a general discussion for upwards of an hour. A very cordial feeling of co-opera-tion was ehown in the discussion of the highly important matters that the committee has hi hand.