BLUFF SHIPPING

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 5

BLUFF SHIPPING

BETTER FACILITIES URGED DISCUSSION AT DAIRY ASSOCIATION’S CONFERENCE (Special to the Times.) DUNEDIN, June 7. The following remit was proposed by Mr W. Caldwell, on behalf of the Menzies Ferry factory, at the annual Conference of the South Island Dairy Association to-day: “That in view of the serious losses sustained by Southland factories caused by the long intervals between shipments, the executive be authorised to negotiate with any shipping companies who are not parties to the present contract and arrange a contract that will ensure the pre-war condition of regular fortnightly shipments from Bluff.” The mover said that he would not take up the time of the conference with a long ! speech. They all knew the difficulties un- ! der which Bluff laboured with regard to i shipping. Sometimes their produce would be in store from 10 to 12 weeks, and that I was very serious on a falling market. They i all knew what the delay meant. Mr J. Mcßride, Mataura, seconded ths remit. i The Chairman said that a representative | committee from the National and South Island Dairy Associations would be meeting the shipping companies, and it would endeavour to make the best arrangements possible. As Mr Grounds had pointed out to the conference yesterday, unless they had some controlling body they would not get very far. They had to battle hard for the few rebates already obtained. At present one combine had the control of all the New Zealand shipping, and he did not know whether they could offer sufficient inducement to another company to comt in. That might come with unity of control. At present there was not mifch hope of effecting an improvement, and the only way the shipping might be improved was to get Bluff made occasionally the final port of call. That would eliminate the carrying of Bluff cargo round the New Zealand coast. Mr Hansen said that if they could get the boats loaded quicker and despatched they would be able to get a reduction in freights. At present the boats hung around the New Zealand coast for about nine weeks at a cost of from £3OO to £4OO a day—in all about £12,000; get the boats away quickly . and reductions in freight would follow. The Chairman said that this would be possible if they had a fleet carrying dairj produce alone, but they did not have that. Mr W. Mould said they had carried L resolution the previous day which would assist the control of shipping. Mr J. J. Fisher said that for the executive to attempt to improve the shipping conditions was like a sprat trying to swallow a whale. Unless they had a very strong body to fight for shipping contracts they would not get very far. All their arguments proved that they wanted a strong controlling body, which would in ake the companies sit up and take notice. Bluff was getting the heavy end of the stick, and the Southland farmers were beginning to get—well, a little sour. Mr Agar suggested that a committee from both Associations should work in with the Meat Board and arrange contracts. He moved that when the executive was negotiating shipping contracts it should combine with the Meat Board in order to have a more influential body, and that particular attention be given to the question of fortnightly calls at the principal ports, including Bluff. This was carried, and the remit was abandoned.