MEAT BOARD CLAIMS FIXING OF SEA FREIGHTS UNSOUND

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1949, Page 3

MEAT BOARD CLAIMS FIXING OF SEA FREIGHTS UNSOUND

WELLINGTON, September 1 (P.A.) —The fixing and increase of shipping freights between New Zealand and Britain was unsound and unsatisfactory, said Mr J. D. Ormond, deputychairman of the Meat Producers’ Board, addressing a meeting of the electoral college of the board today. Mr Ormond was reporting on his recent visit to Britain on behalf of the board. “I came to the Meat Board some 15 years ago because I was opposed to the handling of our shipping contracts and the gradual monopoly of the shipping companies, which was becoming obvious,” said Mr Ormond. “We must admit refrigeration has played a wonderful part in the development of New Zealand and one must also admit that a monopoly has grown up through force of circumstances, but nobody realises more than I do that under today’s arrangements we have no say.

“This was brought home to me in London. I have a right as a businessman to know what is a fair increase in freights and what yardstick was used to measure it —or wasn’t it measured at all? If, for instance, before our season opens there is a change in the turn-round of ships, on what basis can we argue for a decrease in freight? What yardstick do we use?”