COASTAL FREIGHTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 18, 26 February 1914, Page 11

COASTAL FREIGHTS.

CARRIAGE OF PRODUCE. ALLEGED ANOMALIES DISPROVED. At last month 's meeting of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union, a letter was received from Mr G. W. Leadley, of Ashburton, asking the executive to discuss the question of sea freights on grain and chaff as regards the coastal service. This year, as in past years, he said, the farmers would probably be shut out of the northern markets of the Dominion by the charges made by the Union Steam Ship Company for transporting produce. The company was apparently discriminating against the New Zealand producer in favour of the "Australian-. 'The company had not shown itself to be the friend of the New Zealand farmer, although the farmers went to the companyls assistance in the recent trouble, and he thought that the company should be asked to give reasons why the freight on produce from southern ports 'to Auckland and way ports should be greater than the freights from Sydney. No one could deny that local freights were higher, /and the New Zealand producer was driven out of his own market by a local company. If the executive did not favour the proposal to pass a resolution regarding the matter, he would suggest the setting up of a committee to go into the whole question of freight and charges on the transport of farm produce. The matter wsis a vital one, as the producer had to find an outside matket for the greater part of his produce, and if he was blocked by excessive freight he was placed atV'greatt; disadvantage? INTERESTING FIGURES. At yesterday 's meeting, the chairman (Mr C. H. Ensor) said that he had gone into the xijatter with the local manager of the Union Company, and he could not sky that ;there was any .great anomaly, and it was not correct to say that the freights were greater along the coast than from Sydneys The subject was one of great interest to NewZealand farmers,> for if cheap wheat and !flour were 'to -be admitted to the Dominion, prices must come down. He quoted the following table of freights, as* supplied by the Union Steam Ship Company: —

The distance from the Bluff to Auckland was about the same as that from Sydney to Auckland, and the journey up the coast took longer than the voyage across the Tasman. There was therefore not much anomaly. Mr Horrell: It is an anomaly that j the freight from Lyttelton to the north 1 should be the same as from ports further south. • FLOUR AS BALLAST. Mr Gardner said-that it was possible that the Union Company might sometimes take flour from Australia- as ballast. He would lilce to know if there was' ever anything in the way of rebate on such carg6. The president: 'Have you any knowledge of this having taken place. You should not snake such statements unless you are sure of your, facts. Mr Gardner: The .Union Company is a very rich corporation, and could easily "buy ,fl t our to fill-up its ships, and then -sell it in the Dominion. The president: You should not make •such a statement unless you know it is the fact. - It was 'leeideil to .discuss the matter fully 8 at the next meeting.

Lyttelton to Wellington. Southern Ports to Auckland. Sydney to Auckland. Wheat . Flour Oats Chaff .. Pollard Bran Hay and Straw .10/6 . 8/6 . 13/- . 21/- . 12/- . 13/- . 23/G . .. 10/- . 10/- . 13/6 . 23/6 . 13/- . 14/- . 26/- .. 11/- .. 13/3 .. 13/9 . . 24/9 .. 16/3 16/3 . 27/6