EXPORT OF PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1925, Page 6

EXPORT OF PRODUCE.

SIX MAIN PORTS. NEW PLYMOUTH INCLUDED. FASTER SERVICE SOUGHT. CONTROL BOARD’S SCHEME. It was stated in New Plymouth on good authority yesterday that the Dairy Control Board contemplated instituting a fast dairy produce service to the Old Country from three New Zealand main ports, and that New Plymouth was not one of them. The statement, however, was denied by Mr. H. D. Forsyth, of Eltham, a member of the board, who said the board contemplated confining the North Island loading ports to Wellington, Auckland and New Plymouth. The report circulated in New Plymouth yesterday was that the loading ports would be Auckland. Wellington and Lytelton, the proposal being based on the assumption that a fleet of about six of ths fast produce J riers, such as the Tekoa, which was in port at New Plymouth over the week-end. could maintain a quick fortnightly service, taking from 35 to 87 days for the trip. If it is carried into effect the overseas boats calling at New Plymouth will be limited to the slower type of cargo carriers which might handle odd shipments of dairy produce but would be chiefly confined to the meat and general cargo trade. The matter is not new to Taranaki producers, and haa more than once been referred to the chairman of the Central Board (Mr. W. Grounds) for an expreesion of contemplated policy. At the re. cent winter show at Hawera Messrs. J. Brown (chairman of the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Company, Ltd.) and J. S. Connett (a director Of the company and a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board discussed the question with Mr. Grounds. He stated then that the present shipping contract had another two years to run, but he mads no mention of a move for concentration at Auckland) Wellington and Lyttelton.

It is understood that in addition to ths proposal to constitute a maximum of threo or perhaps four main ports, an alternativo propose) has also been by the board to diepatch vessels on the group system, so that one- boat may obtain g full and quick load at, say, Auckland, New Plymouth and Wellington, and anothe# boat , at say, Wellington, Lyttelton and Bluff.

When the matter was referred to Mr, Forsyth, at Eltham by telephone last night, he denied that New Ptymouth wai to be cut out as a loading port, but h? indicated that an important change would be made in the board’s shipping arrangements, which would result in the follows ing ports being declared principal loading ports:—

North Island—Wellington, Auckland and New Plymouth. South Isalnd —Lyttelton, Port Chalmers and Bluff.

As an indication that no change wag to be made in regard to New Plymouth. Mr. Forsyth stated that the question of setting up an office in New Plymouh to deal with the board’s shipping business through this port had been “practically decided on.”

Asked if it was meant by this that ths big steamers would still come to New Ply» mouth to load dairy produce, Forsyth replied: “We would not be thinking of setting up an office there if we were go* ing to cut New Plymouth out.”