FREIGHT CHARGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 5

FREIGHT CHARGES.

THE INCREASED RATES. DISAPPROVAL EXPRESSED BY FARMERS. At yesterday’s meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Mr R. Evans broughtup the question of freight charges. Three years ago, lie said, the freight was either Id or |d per lb. If the Australian Government could do /what Mr Hughes had doue in supplying ships something should be done in tho same direction -by the Dominion Government. Mr G. Gardner said that it seemed as if the Government was quite useless to the farmer in this matter. Freights had gone up from lfd to 2Jd. It was for all agriculturists, pastoralists and producers of any kind to combine on thS lines suggested by the chairman at the annual meeting qf the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association. He moved “That the provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at once com-, municate with the Advisory Board in Wellington suggesting that it is imperative in the interests of primary producers in the Dominion that steps be taken to combat the extortionate rates to which freights have now risen, as witness wool from lfd last year to 2fd this year, and that dairy associations; meat companies, and wool exporters be asked to moot in conference with a view to immediate action being taken, and that failing a conference before the middle of October the Dominion president communicato with thlT Prime Minister in regard to ton-

nage.” 1 Mr Evans seconded tho motion. Mr G. W. Leadley said that matters would probably end as usual in suggestions. Mr F. J. Horrell said that, looking at it from the consumers’ point of view, weren’t the farmers nearly _ as bad? They were complaining against freights and space and yet demanding an open market for their lamb. It seemed to him that they were inconsistent. Mr Evans said he was still willing to give the British public the meat at the old price, but it had been exploited, sold as Argentine meat, and had got into tho hands of speculators. The motion was carried.