FREIGHT ON PRODUCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 8

FREIGHT ON PRODUCE.

EFFECT OF NEW CONTRACTS FLAT KATE NOT GRANTED. COASTAL CHARGE CONTINUED. The nov." rate fur butter fixed by the >ontiact* 'or ilit> Vancouver and San 1- ran cisco services is nut regarded with much i satisfaction by exporters of dairy produce lin Auckland. The concession was re- .. p 1111 v sta'ed I v the Prime Minister to he equivalent to £5000 per annum, bu« as the subsidy lias been increased by that ; a.moifnt. a city merchant remarked yesterday that the negregat-e benefit to the Dominion m apparently not very la. ,;e. A freight of Id per lb, which is oqniva- ! 'ii! In 4s 8d per box. is at present charged on butter shipped from Auckland to \aiiiOliver, or from Wellington to San Fi'uU<isi•>. Shipments forwarded to either Wellington or Auckland from any other port are charged an additional coastal freight of Jd per lb. A conference was held in Wellington on March 2 between representatives of the Auckland and Wellington Chanil>ors of Commerce and of the Union Steam Ship Company, at which the Prime .Minister also was present, and it was then proposed that the coastal freight should bo ; shed. and a flat rate of 4s 3d per box charged upon shipments to ' either Vancouver or San Fiancisco from any port, in the Dominion, so that all exporters would receive the same advantages. The proposal that the direct rate should be reduced from 4s 8d to 4s 3d per box was supported by the argument . that at present butter could be delivered to Huston or New York from any New i Zealand port, at a flat rate of 4s 3d, : ihouuh the distance to the eastern ports was much greater than to the Pacific I roast. ! Instead of conceding the request for a flat rate, the Union Company has agreed to make two reductions of £d in the direct freieht, so that from July 1 to March 31, 1916 the direct freight will be 4s Id per j box, and during the remaining period of the contracts it will be 3s 6d per box. j