CORRESPONDENCE SHIPPING CONTRACTS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

SHIPPING CONTRACTS

CASE FOR PRESENT SERVICES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Efforts are being made on behalf of the Blue Star Line of steamers to secure the support of New Zealand producers and shippers in the. endeavours being made by that line to secure a footing in the New Zealand-United Kingdom trade/ Mr. W. J. Poison, president of the New Zealand farmers' Union, has announced in the Press that he has been approached in this connection, and we are also informed that a cable, from London soliciting support for the Blue Star Line has recently been circulated1 amongst" New,' Zealand -dairy factories. In order that shippers may know; something regarding the line referred to, we think the following facts should be made public. The Blue Star Line is owned and controlled by Messrs, Vestey Bros., and prior to the Ottawa Conference Sir Edmund Vestey made determined efforts to prevent Empire Preference being achieved; and did his utmost to favour Argentine producers. Having failed in this, and owing to a reduction in exports from Argentine to the United Kingdom on account of the quota, Messrs. Vestey Bros, now seek to' take away the carriage of Empire cargo from those who Have hitherto provided all of the tonnage required for this purpose and who are ready to continue doing so. New Zealand producers can safely be left to draw their own conclusions as to the motives of the Blue Star Line and their owners, Vestey Bros., who combine the roles of producers, owners of freezing works, salesmen, and : distributors, with that of shipowners and carriers, which combination of operations is entirely contrary to the general under-. standing which has always existed between shipowners and shippers. The statements made in the cable circulated to dairy factories are, as above referred to, incorrect in most details..For instance, in its reference to the comparative rates of freight from Australia and New Zealand, the statement was made that rates from Australia on refrigerated cargo are. about the same as from New Zealand, whilst on wool and other cargo Australian rates are lower, and that these better rates had been obtained without the assistance of control boards. We wish to point out that freights from Australia to the United Kingdom are higher than from New Zealand, particularly in respect of butter, cheese, lamb, and wool, the dif-, ference in favour of New Zealand in these commodities being 215~6d, 25s 9d, 32s 4A,\ and 8s in sterling respectively per net ton weight. In view of the above. facts, the contracting overseas lines, with their up-to-date and adequate tonnage, feel confident that the interests, of the Dominion -would be best served by a continuance of the present relationships.—l am, etc.; R. C. BRIAN, ' Secretary, Now Zealand Overseas Ship-' owners' Committee. May 29.