Dairy Produce

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 199, 8 August 1923, Page 5

Dairy Produce

Grading at Napier , DEPUTATION ANO MINISTER. A DECISION DEFERRED. [Per Press Association.) Wellington, Aug. 8. A deputation waited on the Minister of Agriculture with a request that Napier should be made a grading port for dairy produce. The deputation consisted of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, Napier Haybour Board, and farming interests, and was accompanied by Sir George Hunter, M.P., Mr. G. McKay, M.P., and Mr. L. Mcllvride, M.P. Dr. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture, pointed out that there were grading ports in other parts of the Dominion. Tho proposal meant that Home boats would spend a greater period on the New Zealand coast. The question of reduced freights was under discussion, but there was no likelihood of a reduction if another port were included for loading. The denutation said that if Napier were maae a grading port it would save railage to Wellington. Tho Minister replied that the question of reducing railway freights was under consideration. The Government wished to help Hawke’s Bay producers but it had to consider the Dominion as a whole. H© would not do anything until he saw what was happening in connection with overseas freights, reduced railway freights, and the Dairy Control Bill. THE MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. (From our Parity, correspondent). Wellington, Aug. 8. Replying to a deputation this morning asking that Napier be made a grading port for dairy produce, the Hon. W. Nnswprthy said he wished to disabuse th© minds of th© deputation of any idea that the Government or the Department was not out to help the producers in anv particular part of the Dominion. The Government wished to beln the Hawke’s Pav producers as well as anvbodv else. He was quite open to reason, but he wj»® not going to do anything unless he could see h© was justified in his actin’ l and saw what was hannyning in con nection with overseas freights, reduced railway freights nnd the Dairy Control Bill.