The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14. 1885. REDUCTION IN FREIGHT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1418, 14 November 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14. 1885. REDUCTION IN FREIGHT.

The producers of wool and mutton may

be congratulated on having wienrhi-i) from the Shipping Compunies h r, miction in the freight in London. While tinprice of wool and imiltdl was eufficieutly high to leave the pro.luc im e fair margin no one grumbled. Tin Freezing Companies charged what thej thought fit; the Shipping Companies made their own chargee ; the merchants and middle-men also took particular care that they were compensated for their trouble, and everything went ob swimmingly till prices came down, and the producers found themselves unable to grow wool and mutton for the money returned to them after all costs were paid. Since prices fell there has been a good deal of discontent with the two Shipping Companies trading between here and London, They were accused of combining together for the purpose of keeping up the freights, and other ugly charge* were preferred against them; the most serious of which was that they were paying Llo,ooo a year to the patentees of the freezing machinery on condition that they would not sell to any other Company trading with New Zealand any freezing machinery, It appears that there was some foundation for the latter charge. The Shaw-S*vill Company bad actually entered into this compact with the Hsslam and BellColeman Machinery Patentees, and the London Board of Advice of the New Zealand Shipping Company also agreed to it, but when it became known to the Board of Directors of the latter Company in Christchurch they repudiated the agreement. The plain and simple way of putting this matter is that it was proposed that the two Companies—the ShawSavill and the New Zealand Shipping Companies—should pay LIO,OOO a year as a bribe to the owners of the patents, on condition that no one else should be supplied with freezing machinery, and thus secure to themselves; the monopoly of the New Zealand trade. We are glad to find that the New Zealand Shipping Company—the Company which may be said to be indigenous to the soil of New Zealand—had no hand in this trickery. We are glad also that instead of paying this sura for securing a monopoly, it has been applied to the reduction of freights between here and London, The New Zealand Shipping Company have on previous occasions led the van, and compelled the Shaw-Savill Company to follow. There can be no doubt hut that some pressure was brought to bear on these Companies before they submitted to a reduction. A meeting was held in North Canterbury, and « resolution was carried to have the matter discussed at a meeting to be held in Christchurch during the Show week. In the meantime, however, the New Zealand Shipping Company bad lowered the freight »n frozen meat and wool, and when the producers met in Christchurch last Monday the wind was completely knocked out of their sails. It was evident that some of those present were boiling over with indignation, and that if the reductions had not been made the Companies would have been severely handled. As it was they did not escape *• scot-free.” Such term* as “ rascally ” and “ dirty trick-',” and so forth, were used in connection with them, but after all the meeting settled down and appeared to be pretty well satisfied with what had been done, i he only thing done was to appoint a Canraittee to consider what ought to be done. At a subsequent meeting, held

last Thursday evening, this Committee reported that they had agreed to recommend the formation of a woolgrowers’ association. There was a long discussion over the name the association should be called. There were about half-a-dozen names suggested, with the view of having farmers included in it, hut they were all rejected. At last the question dwindled down to whether the word “ farmer ” should form a part of the name. It was proposed that the name should he “The N.Z. WoolGrower’s and Farmers’ Association,” hut the word “ farmers’ ” was struck out, and the name became “ The N.Z. Wool-Growers’ Association.” To say the least of it, to exclude farmers from the Association was rather peculiar. Probably wool-growers thought it beneath them to be associated with farmers. However, that is not the point we desire to discu-s. The freight to London has been lowered, and tincredit of it must undoubtedly be given to the New Zealand Shipping Com pany. They have led the way in every movement, aud the Shaw-Savill Company have always had to follow them. The same Company have always exhibited a deep interest in the well-being of the colony—only for it our freight would have been much higher than it is—and consequently we halt that they will receive every consideration.