EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 19

EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT

INCREASE IN FREIGHT RATES,

SOME CONCESSIONS SECURED. WELLINGTON, June 4

An increase in certain refrigerating freights has been ordered by the Imperial authorities, who now control all steamers carrying frozen produce between New Zealand and Great Britain, but the Prime Minister informed a reporter to-night that he had been able to secure certain concessions for exporters, with a view to avoiding injustice in connection with the produce already in cold store. “ When the Imperial authorities requisitioned all the insulated ships trading between New Zealand and Australia and the Mother Country they levelled up the New Zealand freights to something like the rates paid by Australia and the Argentine, taking into consideration the extra distance to be traversed,” said Mr Massey. “They had requisitioned also the British insulated ships trading to the Argentine. The rates fixed then meant that the British Board of Trade lost money on every consignment of dairy produce, rabbits, and some other frozen lines, such as veal and pork. The Imperial authorities informed the New Zealand Government and the exporters concerned several weeks ago that after June 1 there would be an increase in the freight of the articles I have mentioned. I pointed out to the Board of Trade that there were in store in Now Zealand largo quantities of dairy produce and rabbits that had been purchased by exporters in confident expectation that the rates of freight would remain unaltered for some time, and I suggested that it would be hardly fair to make those people subject to increased rates. The Imperial authorities have replied to the effect that the increased rates will not be imposed in connection with consignments that were in store at the end of May. That is a very generous concession. A point that has not been realised by people of this country is that under the arrangement at present in operation the Board of Trade pays 40 per cent, of the freight on all frozen meat bought by the N»w Zealand

Government for the Imperial authorities. There has been no suggestion that local producers should contribute towards the payment of this 40 per cent., which has been added to the freight charges since the Board of Trade took over the insulated space.”