OCEAN FREIGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 14

OCEAN FREIGHTS.

MEETING OF PASTORALISTS. Gisboeke, June 7. A largely attended meeting of pastoralists convened by Mr W. G. Foster, manager of the Estates Company, set up *a strong committee to watch the interests of producers with regard to ocean freights, and to obtain guarantees as to the amount of produce that is to be shipped upon any arrangements being come to. Mr Foster said he was assured of very great support in the south, and there could be no question now that producers had it entirely in their own bands to secure more favourable terms. They did nob expect the shipping companies to carry at rates that were not remunerative, bub they wanted fairness. Then he noticed that following the steps that had been taken the shipping companies had thought it desirable to announce a reduction in their freights. That was a step he should have taken were he running a shipping company. Some people, woolgrowers, and not frozen meat shippers, might think they had now gob all they wanted, but he considered the question was a more general one — that the settlement should include freights on frozen meat or any other produce on which the present ruling rates might press uuduly. The freights on frozen meat in Australia wero a farthing cheaper than in New Zealand at the present time. He thought they could count on a guarantee of 50,000 bales, and he expected a very great deal more than that. Mr Bright (manager of the Loan and Mercantile Company) stated that the New Zealand and Shaw-Savill Shipping Companies were advertising reductions of one-eighth of a penny both by steam and sail. The great trouble from the companies' point of view was that the requirements as far as wool waa concerned were all lumped into two or three months, and the companies for the rest of the year had a large amount of tonnage thrown upon their handß. If some means could be devised whereby (he freight could bo spread over the whole year the shipping companies could no doubt see their way to still further reduce the freights. Mr Shelton also mentioned that the shipowners had tried to meet them by giving them the benefit of reduction in the freight, both in wool and meab during the winter months as against the summer months, so as to make it worth tbeir while to equalise matters. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr Foster*