CHARGE AND REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 44, 20 August 1925, Page 6

CHARGE AND REPLY

SHIPMENT OF DAIRY PRODUCE

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

In a recently-published interview with Mr. Cobbe, a Manawatu factory director, it was Btated that the shipment of dairy produce during the forthcoming early summer was likely to be seriously prejudiced by the desire of owners of meat to ship abnormal quantities. "This is not correct," states Mr. W. Grounds, chairman of the Dairy Board. The Dairy Board has entered, into its contract with the shipping companies, who undertake to lift all dairy produce as offered, based upon estimated requirements which are given by the board to enable the necessary tonnage to be in. New Zealand waters. The Meat Board takes the same course regarding space required by its clients, and neither has power to take possession of space booked by the other, the obligation to supply the necessary, space booked ■by each, board being upon the shipping companies.

"QUITE ERRONEOUS."

"The opinion expressed in this interview when discussing the clause in the Act which provides For the Dairy Board working in conjunction with the Meat Board is also incorrect. It is quite erroneous to suppose that this clause was put in at the instigation, of meat companies. The Meat Board has been given the sole power by the Act to enter into freight contracts for the carriage of meat. The general feeling throughout Parliament unquestionably was that the two boards should act together and not risk the dissipation-of power by separate action. Those responsible for the preparation of the statutes considered that the simplest way to provide for this joint action would be by the inclusion of section 1 of clause 14 of the Dairy Produce Act. Without this clause, legislative provision' for joint action could only have been made by an amendment of the Meat Act. As this joint action is now dependent upon the passing of a resolution by the Meat BoarJ, the Dairy Board does not enjoy the same liberty ?u ™l:l o\ enterfng into a contract as the Meat Board. But when the contract is completed, no change of policy 11}.- eith?r dairy or meat interests can be allowed to prejudice the contracted requirement* of oEher shippers. SHIPPING OFFER WITHDRAWN. ■'•' The offer by shipping interests, not at present associated with the New Zealand trade, to supply specialised refrigerated ships for the carriage of dairy produce was examined exhaustively by the Dairy Board. While such t system was_ found to be quite practicable from a shipping point of view, it was not immediately realisable. In the final examination the offer wss withdrawn, as it was found that the boats could n6t be^made immediately available. ' "Throughout the shipping negotiations we insisted that adequate consideration was not being given to the greatly increased volume of dairy produce and tha consequent greater earning power of the ships, because of the relatively smaller' space occupied by dairy produce. We also emphasised the need of better organisation of the loading, of ships to avoid steamers calling at so many ports. It will be recognised.that this also entails organisation of incoming cargoes.' Improvements have already-; been effected by a reduction of the average number of calls, and these matters' are still engaging the attention of the boards in conjunction with the shipping companies.

COST TO THE COUNTRY,

" While- specialised steamer* may be organised to give greater service to the dairy industry than it has recently secured, it is clearly our duty to first see how far the industry's desires are realisable in conjunction with the other major interests of the Dominion.

" We must needs count the cost to the country as well as to ourselves of a specialised service, for, although the dairy industry is the largest contributor to the national weath, we must not be unmindful of other national interests. The board fully recognise the need for regular arrivals. How these can be Befinitely secured in view of all the varying circumstances associated with the work is receiving consideration by all concerned at the present time, and a full opportunity will be given to the service when reorganised to prove itself."