FROZEN MEAT FREIGHTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 12

FROZEN MEAT FREIGHTS

STRONG EXCEPTION TAKEN TO INCREASE. WELLINGTON, February 21. The Prime Minister to-day issued a lengthy statement concerning the rates of freight on fro ten meat, and giving copies of the cable communications between the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner on the subject of the proposed increases, instead of a 5 per cent, redirection, as previ-

ously promised. On February 12 the Prime Minister cabled the High Commissioner as follows: —‘‘With further reference to my telegram of February 11 with reference to meat freights to,. New Zealand, the Overseas Shipowners’" Committee have advised the freezing companies that lyider instructions from the London Tonnage Committee rates of freights are to be charged in Marcn and April steamers, amounting to: Beef 6 per cent., mutton 8 per cent., lamb 10 per cent., an increase on the rates set out in your cable of January 5. The imposition of these increased rates, instead of a reduction, as advised by you, is indefensible. Please make the strongest protest to the Ministry of Food and request an immediate revision of these rates, and the establishment of the rates as advised in your tele gram of January 5. The matter is urgent, in view of the adverse influence this announced increase has had upon market values of freezing stock, and upon freezing companies’ operations generally.” The Prime Minister is now awaiting a reply to this cable, and should the same be not. satisfactory, he will immediately carry the matter further. PROTEST BA WAIRARAPA SHEEP BREEDERS. ‘‘Please note that instructions have been received from the Imperial Government, through the medium of the London Tonnage Committee, that it has been found that owing to the absence of cut carcases the rates of freight at present being charged are not sufficient to reimburse the Imperial Government, and it is necessary to cliarge the following rates of freight for private meai, beginning with the group of steamers to be allotted for March loading:—Beef, pork, veal, boned beef, and sundries in crates, 1' 15-16 d per lb net; mutton and tegs, 2gd per lb net; lamb, sundries, in bags, shoulders, legs, and pieces, 25-16 d per lb net; rabbits, 184 s per ton measurement net. These rates will also be applicable to steamers to be allotted. as the April group. These rates will not apply to c.i.f. sales already effected by freezing companies, which will be carried at the following rates: Beef, lfd, plus 10 per cent. ; mutton and tegs, l-|d, plus 10 per cent. ; lamb, 2d, plus 10 per cent. ; rabbits, 175 s per ton measurement, plus 10 per cent. It is necessary that you should hand to this committee a list of c.i.f. sales effected by you to date.” The above letter from the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee to the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Company was read to the farmers assembled at the ram fair at Masterton on the 18th ult. by Mr A. D. M‘Leod, M.P. Few of them realised what it meant to themselves individually and to the meat companies, said Mr M’Leod. A rise of id per lb meant an increase of Is per mutton carcase. It was well known that under the contracted prices meat was sold for less than could have been readily obtained in .the open market. Why had not the Imperial Government raised tlio price instead of allowing New {Zealand farmers to be losers? He moved —“That this meeting of Wairarapa sheep owners protests against the recent increase in freights on frozen meat made by the London Tonnage Committee, and asks the Prime Minister to make the strongest protest possible in the proper quarters against such increase.” Sir Walter Buchanan seconded the motion. He said that for 17 years preceding the war he had spent considerable time on the question. The position would be very much better if breeders themselves knew more about the freights charged on their meat, He had asked one breeder if he knew what the charges were on a bullock he sent, and the breeder said be did not know. Sir Walter Buchanan pressed him for an answer, and he replied “ about 245.” Few of them knew that it cost £l3 to carry an 8001 b bullock to London, yet. that was not enough for the shipping combine. He pointed out that there was a slump in shipping values and freight the world over; ships were laid up in all directions. Yet this was not the case regarding the refrigerated shipping combine, which was backed up by the Imperial Government. They actually proposed to increase, instead of reduce, freights. Australian wheat was now being carried at a great reduction on the former rates. They must bring pressure on the Government to stop the iniquitous state of affairs. The shipping ring, under the wing of the Imperial Government, wanted their pound of flesh, and New Zealand farmers could not get justice. He could see no reason in the price of coal and labour why freights should be raised. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was arranged that a deputation should wait on Mr Massey to urge him to act speedily and effectively. SHORTAGE OF SHIPS. DANNEVIRKE, February 25. The Dannevirke branch of the Farmers’ Union discussed flip shortage of ships for carrying frozen meat. Tt was contended that if steamers could not be loaded at

Wellington they should be diverted to Napier and worked there. Some of the free sing works, being full, were about to close down, and Hawke’s Bay would Be particularly hard hit, this being the third dry summer in succession. It was decided to make urgent representations to the Prime Minister, Sir George Hunter, and Mr A. M'Nicol, M.P.’s, asking that all possible steps be taken to get the meat shipped. A REDUCTION URGED. AUCKLAND, February 27. With reference to the representation made by the Prime Minister urging the Imperial authorities to reduce the freight on meat, Mr Massey has received the following cablegmm from the High Commissioner:— “The Ministry of Food has agreed to pay shipowners here at the rate of 144 s per 40 cubic feet insulated space, charging shippers of free moat poundage rates or the equivalent thereto plus 5 per cent, to cover the cost of administration and of dead freight. The poundage rates referred to in my telegram of January 5 were worked by the steamship lines here. The calculation of the Wellington Committee showed a material increase and an investigation of the latter’s figures in light of actual shipments, confirmed the views of the Wellington Committee. The following poundage rates will therefore operate on steamers for March and April loading:—Beef 1 15-16 d. mutton 2d, lamb 215-16 d, all net. The Ministry regrets that it has become necessary to raisp the rates after the new season’s shipments have commenced, but in order to avoid hardships where commitments have been entered into the Wellington Committee has been instructed to ask the freezing companies to telegraph their actual contracts with a view to the adjustment of rates in such cases. I have made strong representations to the Ministry, but they are unable to make further concessions.” Mr Massey said he would make further representations. A SOUTH CANTERBURY" PROTEST. TIMARU, February 26. The executive of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union, by a resolution, protested against the proposed increase in frejght rates of frozen meat, and requested the president (Mr J Bitchener, M.P.) to forward the protest to the proper quarter. It was stated that buyers have reduced buying limits in view of the proposed increase in freights.