Freight of Dairy Produce. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 23

Freight of Dairy Produce. TO THE EDITOR.

Sih, — As negotiations have been entered into between the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, the New Zealand Shipping Company, and secretaries of the National Dairy Association of the North and South Islands, and through them the committees of the association, for a new and extended contract for the carriage of dairy produce, it is in my opinion necessary that the parties interested should know the terms of the proposed new contract before the committees, in question sign it. By what right do these committees enter into and sign a contract for a number of years before the matter has been referred to the parties interested — viz., the dairy farmers of New Zealand, who will have to pay, and do not know to what they are being bound. It was stated at the meeting of the committee of the National Dairy Association held on the 24th May that the contract had been signed by the North Island Association, and a resolution was carried authorising the president and secretary of the South Island Association to sign this contract if it could be arranged for five instead of seven years, as proposed. I objected to this arrangement, and was told that I was the only man in all New Zealand that objected to the new contract. If that is so, I am surprised, and will necessarily feel very lonely. I think the dairy factories and dairy farmers -are entitled to a full and complete answer to the following questions: — 1. What is the reason of the indecent haste exhibited in entering into this new contract ?

2. Why are the terms of said contract kept absolutely secret from the various factories interested, and who will have to pay the freights? 3. Are the committees of the National Dairy Association justified in entering into contracts without the knowledge and consent of the par-ties interested? It is a grave question if the dairy industry has ever been treated fairly by the shipping companies in the matter of freight charges. Dairy produce has always paid excessive rates compared with other produce, frozen mutton is carried at one half penny per pound, butter at threefarthings. Why is this? They are both carried at the same temperature, and probably in the same chamber. I cannot see any reason except that the shipping companies have the power, and that might is right. Dairy farmers would probably like to know why butter is charged a higher rate pound for pound when it takes less space-, is less liable to damage, and easier to handle. Take the space occupied, — and surely spaoe is a matter of the greatest importance in any vessel, seeing that space is the- limit of its carrying capacity. Meat takes twice the space of cheese and nearly twice and a-half the space required for butter. The space occupied by a ton of meat is charged £4- 13s 4d ; the Eame space would give the exorbitant charge of from £15 to £16 for butter. 1 would urge the dairy farmers to carefully consider this matter. The contracts being made in Australia for a weekly service by the P. and O. and Orient mail steamers are as follow: — Seven-sixteenths of a penny per pound, less 3 per cent.. or about £4 per ton. _ The White Star, Aberdeen, and Lund lines' of steamers offer to cai-ry butter at i of a penny net, or £3 10s a ton, as against the £6 13s we are at present eaying. Now, before a^y, fresh

contract is entered into our dairy factories should see that the price is reasonable and the terms suitable. There need be no hurry about it, as it will be four months before the next season commences. In my opinion it would be better for the dairy industry to continue the present contract, unjust as it is, than enter into an extended one that will only perpetuate the evil. The large number of steamers now being built, and the keen competition that is bound to follow, will undoubtedly ensuie more reasonable charges ; therefore, I would say to our dairymen, Do not be satisfied with or sign any contract that does not provide for a freight of one-h.i.!f penny per pound net weight of butter or cheese at the port of origin.— l am. etc., Roslyn, June 5. Wm. J. Bolt.

TO THE EDITOK.

Sib,— Lest any of the dairy farmers should be milled by Mr Bolt's letter to you of yesterday on thi? subject, I may just say* that the negotiations with the shipping companies were carried on in terms of a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the association last year, moved by Mr Cushnie, seconded by Mr Bolt. At a committee meeting" heTd on the 24th November, 1904. at which Mr Bolt was present, -the secretary read correspondence on this and , other .matters, and the committee without dissent instructed him to persevere in the matter. At a meeting of committee held on the 3rd May. 1905, the committee, with the sole exception of Mr Bolt, approved of all that had been done in the matter, all correspondence having been read, and an account of the negotiations given by the secretary. The committee, I may further explain, consists of Mr W. J. Bolt and six other gentlemen as follows: — Mr James Milne (chairman Wyndham Dairy Factory). Mr John Gray (chairman Mataura Dairy Factory), Mr John Stevenson (Henley), Mr J. Barnett (chairman Central Dairy Factory, Christchurch), Mr R. Bowie (chairman South Canterbury Dairy Factory, Timaru), and Mr John Spratt (late chairman Island Dairy Factory). I think it fair to assume that in the hands of such men the best interests of the dairy farmers, as a whole, will not be neglected. They have with one exception (Mr Bowie, of Timaru, elected for the first time last year) been unanimously elected to the committee at several annual meetings of members.

Mr Bolt is wrong in saying that it was stated at the committee meeting that the North Island had signed a contract. No such statement was made.

It would bo quite out of place in me, as secretary, to discuss the policy of the committee in newspapers with a member of the committee, as Mr Bolt is, and I shall say no more on the matter, as it will be dealt with at the annual meeting, and I feel confident members generally will approve the action . of their committee in this and other matters. — I am, etc., James R. Scott.