NEW SHIPPING LINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10965, 29 July 1921, Page 4

NEW SHIPPING LINE

PR9DUCEBS’ COMPANY FARMERS" UNION DISCUSSES THE PROJECT. FURTHER. CONFERENCE LIKELY When the Farmers" Union conference reassembled yesterday morning it continued tho discussion on the remit that had been moved on Wednesday, which ran: “That this conference is in favour tot a State-aided shipping comptiny.” Air D. Bates (North Canterbury), who was opposed to State aid, moved as an amendment: “That, owing to the high price of freight on produce, and the difficulty of getting it away, the producers, merchants and importers should take into serious consideration the advisability of finding their own shipping.’ ’ He contended that all the conference needed to do was “affirm the principle.” No such scheme would be a success unless there was a combination of rural and business interests. Captain Colbeck (Alorrinsville) also objected to State aid. He thought the way to do the thing was to have a levy on exports. He reckoned that twenty ships would suffice, and that the capital required would be about £5,000,000. A levy of one per cent, on exports would provide interest on that sum. They would, of course, have to see that their waterfront labour was properly done and that the shipping business was properly managed. The idea was to get legislative authority to go ahead on the lines he had indicated.

TALK OF SECRECY. Others favoured passing a resolution merely “affirming the principle.” Air G. Sheat cOun&andel) said tho principle had been affirmed at previous conferences. They ought now to go further, join up with, kindred interests, and push ahead. They had been on the question for five years and had made little headway. - Air A. E. Harding (Mang&whare) agreed with Air Sheat that they had to get the whole of the people interested in the shipping matter. He saw no objection to State aid; if they were going to fight the big combines tney needed all the power behind them they could get. He gave notice of another amendment to the effect that the matter should be “left in the hands of our present committee—three gentlemen we have every confidence in.” Air A. Robinson (Wanganui) voiced an objection to the secrecy that was being maintained by the producers’ committee respecting the shipping matter, (tie was not sure that the producers* committee was .going to do the best thing, and he wanted to have a say. Air W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna) also raised an objection to the secrecy. WARNING OF “A TRAP.** Mr W. J. Poison (Fordell) said tho farmers were going to be op against a very strong body—the vested interests. Immediately the representatives of the freezing companies realised that the farmers meant business they cam& down with a proposal for something in the nature of a guarantee for a stipulated amount of freight being brought in to reduce the rates, and they quoted the case of a certain line. Now, what did that line do? They came in, thev became established, and they joined the shipping combine. Air PcHson did not want the conference to fall into any such trap. After endeavouring to agree on various remits, the conference resolved: “That, in the opinion of this conferference, the establishment of a producers* skipping company should be energetically proceeded with, and as soon, as the producers* committee can make their scheme public a further conference of the Dominion Farmers* Union to be convened to consider the scheme.”