COOL STORES.

Southland Times, Issue 18937, 10 May 1923, Page 4

COOL STORES.

Yesterday the F. u . Harbour Board took a wise step in appointing a committee to confer further with the dairying interests on the question of the cool stores at Bluff. We agree entirely with the chairman of the Board that it is desirable that some settlement of the affair should be reached so as to- avoid any question of competition at the port or the erection of a cool store im Invercargill. So far as the public is concerned, there is a - considerable amount of haziness about the actual points at issue between the Board and the committee of the Dairy Association, but we understand that the amount involved in a special levy paid by the farmers in connection with the capital cost of the stores plays some part in the dispute as it now stands. It seems to us that this is a case in which both parties with advantage can put all the facts before the public. An amicable settlement on reasonab’e terms is not only desirable but absolutely necessary in the interests of the province, because the introduction of competition in this matter must be expensive, and in the long run it will recoil on the public. The. Harbour Board can have no wish to “make” anything out of its deal and, therefore, in its negotiations with the Dairy Association it should, we think, take into consideration all the facts connected with the erection of the stores, and seek to deal with the matter as generously as possible. We notice that the accounts for last year show that the stores were worked profitably with a charge of £2300 for interest, depreciation and insurance, but before the actual significance of that item can be understood the farmers and the public must know more of the financial details of the whole affair. It is clear that the representatives of the Dairy Association are not satisfied with the attitude previously taken up by the Board, but the way should now be open for a freer discussion of the points in dispute, especially if both sides have reached the decision that competition by means of a cool store in Invercargill or at Bluff is to be avoided if possible in the interests of the province.