Page 8 Advertisements Column 3

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1933, Page 8

AN OPEN LETTER from the Blue Star Line TO THE FARMERS, EXPORTERS, AND IMPORTERS OF THE DOMINION r At this moment your representatives in London are reviewing arrangements for the carriage of refrigerated produce from New Zealand to the Mother Country. You appreciate that the freight rates settled by them now will have a direct bearing on the successful sale of your primary products for some years, and will determine both your income and the cost of the goods which you import. Owing to geographical position your freight rates must of necessity be higher than those of foreign competing countries. This handicap is more serious today when your commodity prices are low (in some cases below cost of production). Necessity compels you to seek the lowest possible freight rates, and these can only be obtained under competition. / In the past it has proved impossible for any shipping company outside the present contractors to obtain any portion of your trade. In view of present day conditions, v/e, the Blue Star Line, have now applied to the Control Boards for a share of these freight contracts, and we are prepared—in the event of our application succeeding-—-not only to work under the regulations imposed by the Boards, but also to reduce all freight both to and from New Zealand. We have offered to provide one fast modern ship per month specially equipped, not only for the carriage of frozen beef, mutton, lamb, dairy produce and fruit, but also for chilled beef, a branch o the export trade which it would be to the advantage of new Zealand to develop. We are asking for no concessions whatsoever, nor will we need to operate at unfair rates. The equipment ana experience at our command enable us to offer you an efficient service, regularly maintained, and despite the reductions which we propose will enable us to conduct the business at a reasonable margin over our working costs. We cannot undertake this service unless v/e obtain a share of the carriage of your dairy produce, meat, wool, and fruit the United Kingdom. If we obtain that, share v/e definitely promise also a reduction in the freights of ail general cargoes. ims general reduction should interest, not only every farmer, exporter and importer in the community, but all members of the general public as well, for they indirectly pay the high freight charges m their daily purchases of imported goods. The caoital and management of our company are British. Our ships are of‘British construction and several of them have been omit with the assistance of the British Government under the trade Facilities Act. We ask for your co-operation, in order that, before any new contracts are ez.ti.vei into, competitive freight rates may. be ootamed for the farmers and importers-' of New Zealand. We are taking this method of publicity because v/e are anxious that the fullest information about our offer may be made public, so that those Interested may judge whether our competition will be in the best interests of the Dominion. . THE BLUE STAR LINE