CONFERENCE RE REDUCTION OF FREIGHTS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10657, 10 July 1897, Page 3

CONFERENCE RE REDUCTION OF FREIGHTS.

(BY TELEGRAPH,) Wellington, Friday. Tbe oonferenoe to oonelder the question of a redaction In freights opened this morning. Mr W. C. Baohanan, M.H R., presided, Settle™ from all parts of tbe district and Hawke'a Bay, alao the aotlng« Premier, were present, Tbe Chairman, iv moving that tbe redaction lv the wool freights of one-eighth of a penny per lb tillered by the shipping companies waß Insufficient, regretted thai slnoe they had established a wool guarantco miDy of the freezing companies had acoopted tbe redaction, and entered into a contraot with the oompanles for live yeare He dwelt at length on tbe disadvantages of the wool growers, his speech being mnch on the same Hoes as those delivered in tbe Boath. If the present shipping monopoly wag broken up they would be In a better position. They had already a wool guarantee of SO 000 bilef, which he wbb convlneed the committee would increase to 100,000 by a oanvaßs of tbe settlers. He contrasted tho frelghto on prodnoe exported from Australia with those from this colony, showing that tbe latter were considerably higher, and he had very little donbb that It the isttlera oorablued they wonld lndaoe come of tbe large vobbolb trading to Anstrnlla to call ftt New Zoaland. The grain producers wonld soon have to face the dlffionlty of freights in getting tbeir prodnce to tho Home market, There were also the dairy producers, tbe shippera of tallow, and others, and If all combined, ho nas oonvlijcod that a onßidorablerednotlou would be msde. Tbs wool growers conld get tbclr produce Home in Bailing vessels, but what wav the position of tbe frmzlrjg companies and tbe dairy prudncert ? They were at tho weroy of tu.j chipping oompanloß.— Mr Foßter, of tbe Eitates Company, seconded.— Captain Kacsell euppjiictl tho prnpacal, and nrtjod that for the lnfonnflllon of tbe farmers particulars oa to whdt Bteamem were likely 6a oome to New Zealarid be obtained, and that the wool growers should be prepared to make a email saorlfiou the fitat year, and 11 there wbi unanimity

here there would be an enormous laving by a reduotion of the freights.— The Chairman pointed oat that the drongbt In Australia wohld have a serious tfhoti on the quantity of wool and prodnoo exported from Australia, therefore there would be plenty of vessels available for New Zaa land. He read a letter from a London firm to the Agent- General oomplalnlng nf the delay In the delivery of butter after arrival In England, and stating bow disastrous this and the high rates of freight were to colonial prodnoa.— Mr Meadows, representative of a London produce firm, declared that regularity of delivery of dairy prodaoe wat of the ntmost Import ance, evon more so than the rates of freight. He said the time would soon oorna when they wonld find tbatj they oould not oarry butter In the same steamers as meat, as it wbb frozen too bard, which injured f he article.— Mr B life, chairman of the North Island Dilry Association, eald bis association were prepared to assist if they not regular shipments,— The motion was carried, The Chairman then said that he would submit to tbe delegates at a subsequent meeting a motion for the appointment of a committee to negotiate for a rednotlon in the freights, with power to make oontraota on behalf of tbe wool guarantor!, A resolution that the dairy freights and delivery are unsatisfactory, and that the accommodation on the steamers was unsatisfactory, was carried, and the Oonferenoe went into oommUtee.