Pensions Instead of Farming

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1949, Page 6

Pensions Instead of Farming

ASSERTION BY DAIRY CO. CHAIRMAN When Mr. A. A. Cox, Chairman of the Hokianga Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., was giving evidence before the No. 1 Licensing Authority, in opposition to the advent of the tanker system of petrol deliveries, he made an assertion that he considered that his company was at the peak of production, and that, if anything, the output was likely to fall as time went on. He gave as reason the fact that many small suppliers were leaving the company by way of giving up any attempt at production. “Are these people pakehas or Maoris?” asked Mr. Phelan, “All Maoris, sir, in a small way.” “Well, what are they living on?” asked Mr. Phelan. “Pensions mostly and government help,” replied Mr. Cox. Mr. Cox outlined the position as he saw it as Chairman of a Dairy Company, that his organisation needed the services of a boat. They held no brief for Frankham’s, he averted, but they were concerned about the position if the boat were to be taken off. Mr. Cox revealed that he had just entered into a contract with Frankham’s for the carriage of butter at a rate of 1/7 per box. This contract was made sometime in October last. In reply to a question put by Mr. Haig, Mr. Cox said that the rate previously for butter freight was either lid or 1/1, but he couldn't be sure. The rise had been made in October of 1947. He was not worried as to what manner petrol came in, but he did know that if the boat went off because of loss of revenue through the non-shipment of petrol in drums, this was going to be a crippling blow io his company. “What makes you think that the boat will cease operations, Mr. Cox?” asked Mr. Haigh. “I was told so.” “Who told you that?” went on Mr. Haigh. “Mr. Frankham told me that he was perturbed about the light freights the boats were taking, and he said that if he lost the petrol freight, the boats would have to come off,” replied Mr. Cox. “When did Mr. Frankham tell you this?” “In May of last year.” “And in face of what Mr. Frankham had told you n May as to the shipping position, he goes ahead with you and makes a new contract for butter freighting for a period of five years,” concluded Mr. Haigh.