THE BUTTER FREIGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 37

THE BUTTER FREIGHTS.

In September, IQO3, it was reported that Australian shippers had arranged with the AVhite Star line -if steamers lo get butter carried from Australia to London and Liverpool at a freight. «^.f id per ib. I immediately In ought this report under the notice of the shipping enmpanic-s interested in rl»o carnage of produce from Nenv Zealand to London, hut I failed to obtain tho reduction for this colony l^canse it was prov l to my satisfaction tluit the Australian reduction was only a temporary anangrfinoni. Early last month I became aware that t\\" new contract-- had b 'em arranged in Australia by which butter was lo lye carved lroin Australian penis to London ai £5 10« and £3 13s 4d nor ton a»>;!ii-t tho contra! idles from Vcv/Z-eakind of £7 and J27 11' 4d Vri ion. I tli T-'for * again si ;•.'"> machod V> f> sh'ppiuif comnani'.*. iviking thorn to rccon*i('i?r die qufMiMi wit'i a viow to rp»lutl:'. r ; '[,!•■■) of frei.,'!i*. to -.oir-ftlMiia: app'oaciiin^ ilu> late-, obtaining in AvMialin.—(A.|jpluuce ) Tho iJiiyrrtan, oof tin, matter lo the proJ.iKCi - of butter nnj4 K> ob\ious to jmi all wh'-ii you calou'site tho amount in - vohed. New Zealand i* paying- under the piesenc contract from £3 6s 8d to £5 10s per ton me lo freight on an annual ovtpvt ot some 15,000 tond, equal to from £50,000 to £52,000. Il is quite absurd to suppose

7 that the dairying industry in New Zealand oculd stand such a handicap and survive in these days of keen competition.—(Applause.) This colony is deeply concerned in this matter. The Agricultural Department is spending in round figures £16,000 a year in New Zealand on the butter and cheese industry, and in the I'aee for supremacy which New Zealand. I hope, will by the excellence of its article attain, our Lutter and cheese producers cannot afford to be handicapped as against their Australian neighbour. When in Tarauaki recently I spoke on this matter, and I am glad to hear it is likely to be adjusted. I also promised to cable the Agent-general to try and get the Imperial Government to introduce legislation to prevent the dootoring of Now Zealand butter by Dutch buyers. They were adding an additional .30 per cent, to our butter by adulteration, and so prejudicing it greatly. I am pleased tc say this is likely to be done, 'i iie Agentgeneral replied to the Government stating that rep re?en tat ions to the Imperial Go- ; vernment were being made. — (Applause.)