EXPORT OF BUTTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 19

EXPORT OF BUTTER.

THE SHIPPING COMPANY’S CONDITIONS. A Christchurch firm which deals in dairy produce endorses the complaints that have been made regarding the conditions imposed for the taking up of space in the Union Steam Ship Company’s steamers for Vancouver, and has supplied the Press with a copy of the conditions, which are as follow; “ Memorandum of conditions under which applications are invited for refrigerated space in the steamers of the CanadianAustralasian Royal Mail Lin© from Auckland to Honolulu, Victoria (8.C.), and Vancouver (8.C.), during 12 months from September 1, 1913: — “(1) After September 1, 1915, any space not required to meet applications received on or before that date will be available to the extent of 10,000 cubic feet in the steamers Marama, Makura, and Niagara, each trip, for allotment at any time up till 56 days before the appointed date of sailing of the steamer fronv Sydney. If net then all booked, the remaining space to the extent of 5000 cubic feet will be available during the following 20 days. “ (2) .Appl/r'ints must state the space required and the nature of the cargo, also for what period. “ (3) On allotment of space shippers will bo required to give a guarantee that the space allotted will bo filled with New Zealand products, or that, failing this, they will pay dead freight. “ (4) Allotment of space accepted will not bo transferable. “ (5) Freight in all instances to be prepaid.- . , ... “ 16) Rates of freight to be as follow: — Butter in cases, Id per lb; meats, |d per lb; rabbits in crates, 60s per cubic feet measurement; eggs in cases, 60s per cubic feet measurement; fruit in cases, 60s per cubic feet measurement. These rates to be subject to increaso-in the event of quarantine or other disturbance of normal conditlo“nj In the event of applications exceeding the space available the Union Steam Ship Company reserves the right to allot the space pro rata or otherwise. “ Applications for space for butter to receive prior consideration as against meats, etc. , * “All shipments to bo subject to the conditions in the bill of lading.’’ It was pointed out by the firm interviewed that they were unable to eay at this period what space they will require. They are at present endeavouring to .secure offers from Vancouver for dairy produce. The dairy season has not yet opened in the domimon, and the factories have not yet fixed the prices they will accept for their outputs, so that firms cannot make application for space, especially when they will have to pay for what they do not fill. The representative of another firm, which exports dairy produce, was also seen, and he endorsed whaf has been stated as to the difficulty of complying with the Union Steam Ship Company’s conditions. Last year the applications were called for five months earlier, and the space was all booked up by four firms, and other firms wore only able' to secure some space by negotiating with these firms, who had apparently gone into the matter as a speculation. So far as ho knew, the space had not been taken up

in that way this season. His firm were j»ot in a position to say yet what space they would require until they had secured business in "Vancouver. At any rate, the export season for dairy produce would only last about six months, so that they could not very well book space for a whole year. The disadvantage that exporters from port* south of Auckland were under in having to pay coastal freight on dairy produce wae considered very unfair. The steamship Companies doing business with the United Kingdom had a uniform freight from a’i the ports, and no doubt it was worked out on a scale to cover the cost of coastal freight when the steamers were going from port to port to complete their loading. It would only be a fair thing if the Union Steam Ship Company made a uniform rate for th# whole of the dominion, and not give Auckland a distinct advantage, as at present. Australia had not o. reciprocal tariff with Canada at present, though efforts were being made to arrange one. New Zealand had an advantage over Australia in that respect, but as a set-off the Australian dairyproduce was cheaper.

DAIRYING INDUSTRY. PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON. (Faou Oub Own Corbcsfondent.) AUCKLAND; August 2L In the course of hie address at the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Dairy tion at Pukekohe this afternoon, tho Chairman of Directors (Mr Wesley Spragg) said that the outlook for the present season wa* about equal to that of last year. There was no indication that tho extreme price* of two years ago would be reached, but there was equally ua prospect of a period of poor prices again returning. If advantage was taken of herd testing, attention given to culling herds, and forethought was taken in making provision _to avoid summer drought and winter shortage of food for cattle, and if tho farm'and factory both strove to produce with shill, care, and cleanliness, the New Zealand dairy farmers might, barring tho unexpected. look wi th confidence for continued and increased prosperity in which the country as a whole must participate. The season iiad opened well — bettor than ever before, —and bigger yie : d* and bigger cheques, with nil round expao sion and advantage, might bo looked for.

CENTRAL OTAGO FRUIT-GROWERS* ASSOCIATION. At the monthly meeting of the Central Otago Fruitgrowers’ Association, held at liarnscleugh, it was decided to adopt a four-tray fruit crate and a three-tray strawberry crate. The inaction of the officials in regard to the eradication of San Jose seal* and other pests in the Clyde and Alexandra districts was seriously criticised, and it was. decided that a request be sent to the member for the electorate (Mr H. Scott) to a»k the Minister of Agriculture why the department is not enforcing the provisions of the Orchard and Garden Pests Act in these districts. The secretary of the Teviot Fruitgrowers’ Association wrote intimating that his association would consider the proposal to. form a co-operative society at their next meeting. Messrs Gadd, Davidson, Annan, and Stevens were appointed delegates to attend the conference of fruitgrowers at Wellington. It was resolved to forward a remit that the next conference of Dominion fruitgrowers be held at Alexandra. A Wellington firm wrote asking that supplies of fruit bo sent during the season. The terms for sale wore 7j per cent, commission, which included all charges for handling, etc., in Wellington, and also one month’s free cool storage in the company’s stores if required. It was suggested that it would be a good idea to endeavour to get this company to open a branch in Dunedin, and the delegates were instructed to interview the manager when in Wellington. Mr Kinmard having pointed out that a weaker Bordeaux mixture was used in Australia for winter spraying, the opinions expressed by members were in favour of the present stronger sc!u<

tion —10-10-40 formula*. Mr Kinnaird read m. paper on asparagus culture and received a rote of thanks. —Dunstan Times.