BUTTER AND CHEESE

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6544, 15 November 1924, Page 2

BUTTER AND CHEESE

0 NEW SHIPPING CONTRACT Considerable anxiety is being 1 expressel by local dairy farmers in the matter of the new shipping contract covering cheese and butter, says the Pahiatua Herald. While the reduction of freight rates is welcome and not unexpected it was hoped that a much better service would be provided. At the present time the position is that the steamers have not given date of departure or arrival, with the consequence that it is often found that steamers carrying large cargoes of butter and cheese arrive within a day or two of each other. It is on record that within a period of five days no less than 7 steamers carrying New Zealand produce have arrived in London. The seriousness of the position was stressed before the delegation sent Home by the Dairy Produce Control Board and it was hoped that they would be able to secure some amelioration of existing conditions, but so far as is known, nothing has been accomplished. Speaking to a gentleman who is in close touch with present conditions of shipment of dairy produce a representative of the Herald was informed that it was of far greater importance to the dairy farmer to secure regular intervals at Home than secure lower freight rates. Irregular arrivals of produce disorganised the dairy produce market much more so than in other lines, the reason being that dairy produce was made up of perishable foodstuffs which lost weight and quality as a result of long storage. Speculation was rife and was quite legitimate, but was not in the interests of dairy farmers,,who would be practically eliminated if regular arrivals at Home could be achieved. Another matter referred to by our informant was that the efforts to get shipments of dairy produce at what were termed “side ports,” such as Patea, Wanganui, and Napier. Few of these small ports lent themselves to the rapid handling of goods for shipment, roadsteads least of all. In regard to the latter we were informed that a steamer had been as many as ten days trying to secure loading during broken weather. Had the steamer been loaded in Wellington or Auckland she would have been loaded in three days at a cost of £3OO per day, whereas on the coast it would cost not less than £4OO per day to keep the ship hanging about in an effort to get a little cargo. In other words it cost someone £4OOO to keep the steamer at the “side ports” instead of costing £9OO at the main port. As the dairy farmer pays all these costs it seems perfectly obvious that a serious loss of time and money is taking place by the use of small ports for loading dairy produce. Some thing should certainly be done. If not by the Government then by the Control Board. Failing other means the dairy factory directors should see to the matter themselves through their own organisation, the National Dairy Association. Local interests should not be allowed to interfere with national ones, and the pirompt and regular shipment and discharge of the produce of the Dominion is a matter of grave national moment.