FARMERS AND FREIGHTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10883, 25 April 1921, Page 4

FARMERS AND FREIGHTS

HEW SHIPPING CONTRACT QUARTER OF MILLION SAVING TO PRODUCERS. PROPOSED SHIPPING BOARD. A meeting of the Standing Producers’ CommiLtee was held in Wellington last Thursday. This committee is representim* the farmers of New Zealand in the negotiations regarding wool realisation, freights, and other matters. | The committee had before it a final draft of tbo. freight contract proposed to be made between the shipping companies and the 'freezing companies. The Producers’ Conference approved of this contract being signed for this season and next season at a rate that would represent a saving of about £135,000 a year, as against the present rates. Since then a further reduction has been secured that will mean a saving of about £250,000 to the producers. The standing committee approved of the contract, and the freezing companies are being notified accordingly. The committee discussed very fully the proposed mercantile shipping board, based on the detailed proposals submitted to and approved by the Producers’ Conference on March 31st. Certain conclusions were reached, and- these conclusions are to be placed in the hauds of a sub-commit-tee in order that necessary details may be examined and elaborated. The sub-committee will report to the full committee at its next meeting. Another point considered by the committee was the serious delay experienced by. overseas steamers in discharging and loading at the main and coastal ports of the Dominion. Some interesting information was placed before the committee. It- was shown that from September Ist, 1912, to January 31st, 1913, the time occupied in working thirty-nine steamers on the New Zealand coast was 1406 days, equivalent to an average of 36.07 days per steamer. From September let, 1920, to January 31st, 1921, the time occupied in 'working steamers was 1719 days, or an average of 47.75 days per steamer. This is an increase of 11.68 days per steamer, or 32 per cent., and represented a charge of about £5600 per steamer. The committee decided to make recommendations on this subject. During the day tho members of the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union, which was meeting at the came time, met the standing committee, and engaged in a general discussion for upwards of an hour. _A very cordial feeling of _ co-operation. was shown in the' discussion of the highly important matters that the committee has in hand.