HIGH FREIGHT CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 5

HIGH FREIGHT CHARGES.

CHATHAM ISLANDS CARGOES. SHEEPFARMERS HANDICAPPED. [I3V TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCITURCH, Sunday. "Farmers at the Chatham Islands have boon particularly hard hit by the depression," stated Mr. J. C. W. Wishart., a sheep farmer of the ChathamS, who is a| present visiting Christchurch. Mr. Wishart said that, apart from (he prevailing low prices of produce, the settlers were confronted with high freight rates between Waitangi, the port of the group, and New Zealand. It cost 5s 3d a head to ship sheep to the Dominion, lie stated, £5 to £6 a ton for general cargo, £1 a bale for wool from Waitangi and £1 5s a hale frr-jri 'other parts of the islands. With fuch heavy overhead charges, fanners wore seriously handicapped and in many instances tliev had not been able to meet their rates. The only hope for the residents of the islands was a substantial reduction in shipping rates. There were 500 residents of the princip.il island, Wharekauri, and 15 on Pitt, 12 miles away, Mangere and South-east being uninhabited, although they were used aJ sheep runs. There were 70 sheep farmer* carrying on the main industry of tho Chatharns and about 2000 hales of wooi wero exported annually for sale in Christ church. The farmers worked poor country as well as coastal land, which carried from three to six sheep to tlie acre all the year round. Lime and manure were essential, but tbe prices of import wero prohibitive. Lime could be obtained at the Chathams, but. on account of unformed roads, it was almost inaccessible. "Tlie conditions on tho Chathams ar<> liko those in New Zealand 60 years ago," Mr. Wishart continued. The only means of transport was by horseback, but goo'd progress in general conditions had been brought about in recent years. About half tho inhabitants were Maoris and thp population included a magistrate, a constable and a doctor.

SOUTH AFRICA'S TRADE. DEC LIN K IN" IMPORTS. The officii 1 statement issued hy the South African Customs Department for January shows that a sum of £624,627 was received in import duties in that month, compared with £621,354 in January of 1931. Union imports fell from £4,671,632 yin January, 1931, to £3.151,043 in January. .1032. Overseas imports fell from £4,277,724 in January, 1931, to £2,943,187 in January last. TIMARU BREWERY. DIVJDEND OF V t PER CENT. The twenty fourth annual report of tho directors of the Timaru Brewery Co., Ltd., covering the year ended February 29, 1932. states; "In view of the economic conditions prevailing in New Zealand during the year, the operations of the company have been seriously affected. Tho net profit for the year's trading is £157. the amount brought forward being £8759. therefore tho sum available to reserve is £8916. Since the last annual meeting the directors deemed it advisable to make a call of 2s 6d per share upon the new issue capital. Tho company's plant and premises have, been kept in good order, also our products still maintain their high reputation. After reviewing the position of the company, the directors feel justified in recommending a dividend of 3$ per cent, (making 7g per cent, for the year), leaving the amount in credit to be dealt with as follows:—Paying a dividend of per cent.. £ISBB 2s 6d; directors' fees. £250; to reserve, £7078 14s 9d." Tho retiring directors are Mr. Walter Raymond and .Mr. J. H. Stringer, who, lining eligible, offer themselves for reeled ion.

NEW COMPANIES. REGISTRATION'S IN AUCKLAND. 'Dip following companies have been registered in Auckland:— PUBLIC. Ruawai Co-operative Lime Company, lime crushers and burners. Capital, £2500 in 111 .shares, Subscribers: William .Sinclair Wallace, Uarrv Norman Cossar, William Alexander Preston, George Biggar, Edward Thomas Rodney Coates, Eglinfnn Krew ]fames, and John Bowse, 20 -shares each. PRIVATE. Norman Wells, Limited, motor garace proprietors, Whitianga. Capital, £ISOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: Harry Norman Archer Wells, 1450 shares; Virginia Ethel Wells, 25 shares; Norman Archer Wells. 25 sit a res. Brook-fields Motors, Limited, motor, electrical and general engineers. Capital. £SOO. Subscribers: Arthur Sydney Purchas Brook field, 499 shares; Kenneth Lawrence Brookfield,. one share. RECONDITIONED WOOL. PORT FBEMANTLE'S CARGO. The fust consignment of reconditioned wool from the Port Eremantlc, on which a fire occurred in January, was sent to London by the Port Hunter from Wellington last week. The damaged wool was reconditioned at Pot one. The total amount to b c forwarded is 3000 bales, of which the Port Hunter look 900 bales. GREY' VALLEY COLLIERIES. HIGH FREIGHT RATES BURDEN. At the annual meeting of Grey Valley Collieries, Limited, held in Christchurch last week. Mr. C. C. Davis, chairman of directors, said the past, year had been one of the most difficult in the history of coal mining in Now Zealand. Tho company had had to contend with a very substantial shrinkage in coal consumption, keen competition from imported Australian coal as well Us from other New Zealand, mines, a period of falling prices, and a series of labour troubles. Mr. Davis said high freight rates were seriously hampering New Zealand collieries generally, all of them having to use the railways from the mine to tho shipping poll, at least. lljb made detailed comparisons of the cost of delivering Welsh and Newcastle coal over long distances with the higher cost of delivering New Zealand coal over much shorter distances. lie said it was cheaper to transport coal from Cardiff to Valparaiso (about 0000 to 9000 miles) than from Greymouth to Auckland (about 500 miles), in ships' bottoms in both cases; and cheaper by 2s lid per ton to bring coal from Cardiff to Australian main ports (over .10,000 miles) than to rail i{, from Dobson to Woolston (142 miles). COLD FROM THE RAND. The official return from the Transvaal Chamber of Mines of the output of gold by the mines of the Witwatersrand and the outside districts for January shows that the total yield amounted to 936,784 fine ounces, of the total value of £3,979,205.