FREIGHT ON FROZEN HEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 7

FREIGHT ON FROZEN HEAT.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir,— The correspondence enclosed will ha interesting just now when there is so much discuseiou re Victoria channel and attitude taken up by the shipping companies. An institution started by the farmers and pastoralists now finds itself so tied to the shipping clique that it is powerless to protect its own and the producers' interests. — Ycurs, fee., The New Zealand Cooperative and Agency Company, Limited, (Garden Watson, General Manager). Dunedin, April 9. Dunedin, N.Z., 12th "February, 1897. S. A. Stewart, Esq., Secretary New Zealand Refrigerating Company. Dunediu. Dear Sir,— As we have a large quantity of produce of all kinds for expor; on clients' and our own account, and we ficd freights are offering lower than we have beeu paying, and Uut in consequence prices are being cue at least to extent of difference in freights, we wish you to distinctly understand that although your company do the killiniraud freezing for us wo h Id ourselves free to make our own shippingarrangernentswhen and where we consider it necessary in our own and clients' interests. We may mention that we have had lesal advice that although you kill and freeze you cannot assume the poiition of niakiog freight arrangements for U3 should we wish to do so ourselves. — Yours truly, Garden Watson, Manager. ■ Dunedin, New Zealand, sth March, 1897. The Manager, New Zealand Refrigerating Company (Limited). Duncdiu. Dear Sir,— We beg to coniinn our letter of the 12th ult , to which we have had no reply. We have now to point out that the high freights, coupled with increased insurance for frozen meat and the low and depress -d markets, are bringing our clientß face to face with the desirability of bringing operations to a standstill unless other and more favourable freight arrange- ! inents are made. The posit on is becoming very acute, and we : submit it is one worthy of the attention of your I directors if it be their desire to see the business fostered. Freight is the obstacle, aud one has only to compare rates charged here i - i comparison with Australian ports to ivaUi>e the handicap shippers here operate under.— Yonra faithfully, Garden Watson. P. S-— ln the meantime we must ask you to hokl all ineit both in the Burnside aud Oamaru works on our own and clients' account, and not chip till we further advise you. D.modin, New Zealand, 11th March, 1817. The Manager. Nt»w Zealand llr-frigeratiug Company (Limited), Dunedin. Dear Sir, — Referring to our letter of the sth inst., and further thereto, we have to say that we are in a position to give you the slaughtering and freezing of a large quantity of sheep and lamb?, provide<i we are allowed to make ourownanangexu«nts for freight. We now await the decision of your directors in this matter. — We are, yours faithfully, Garden Watson, Manager. Bth April, 1897. Garden Watson, Esq., Managing Director New Zealand Co-operative and Agency Company Dunedin. Dear Sir, — With reference to various communications on the subject of allowing you to make your own freight engagements for meit frozen at this company's works, I am instructed by my directors to inform you that we cannot allow you to do this. Whilst wishing to assist you in every way posbible consistent with the proper wr-ying on of our works, we cannot undertake to freeze stock from shipp-rs unless they conform with the company's freight engagements, of which you are aware. This refers to all sheep and larab3 at present in our works and to come in on your account. — Yours faithfully. (Signed) J. A. Stewart, Secretary. Dunedin, April 9, 1897. The Secretary. New Zealand Refrigerating Company (Limited), Dunedin. Dear Sir, — We are in receipt of your letter of the Bth hist., referring and iv reply to our letters of the 12th February and sth and 11th March last. We must submit to the position you take up, but we take this opportunity of protesting against your company preventing us from making a saving in our freights of 50 per cent. During the past month we were offered tonnage to carry our mutton and lamb to London at a freight of jjd per 1b all round, provided we guaranteed 30,000 for ODe steamer at one port and the acquiescence of the freezing company. We were prepared to guarantee the quantity required, but your refusal to reply agreeing to the requests in our letters of the above dates prevented us completing the arrangements. We are korry, indeed, that your company could not meet us iv this matter, as it would have beeu a great benefit to the growers, besides beiug of great advantage to us, and it would also have increased the volume of your operations as lines of sheep and lamb that are going to the Bluff and Christchurch could have been retained in Dunedin and Oamaru. Had your company met us in this matter it would have probably fed to a general reduction in freight on frozen mutton which would have been a great benefit to the colony, instead of which the benefit is with the shipping companies at the expense of the farmers. It is our intention to publish this correspondence with the vievr to educate the shareholders of the freezing company and the farming community generally on this all-important subject of freight.— yours faithfully. Garden Watson, Managing Director. The New Zealand Go-operative and Agency Company (Limited^