WHEAT AND FREIGHTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13909, 21 May 1909, Page 7

WHEAT AND FREIGHTS.

SHORTAGE OF SHIPS

A member of the "Herald" staff had a chat with Mr T. .Buxton, M.P., yesterday, on the subject of the export of wheat, Mr Buxton being just now busy "loading up" trucks at his Teniuka stores for the wharves at Timaru.

Mr Buxton said there is a great deal of—wheat to be sold from South Canterbury, and there is a proiitable m.irket for it in London, but it is found vt ry difficult to get bottoms to carry it. Having exhausted his private efforts Mr Buxton wired to the Premier, inquiring whether the Government could assist grain expofters in procuring vessels. Sir Joseph Ward replied:

•'The matter is a very difficult one. The Government cannot charter steamer-.. There is no authority of Parliament to pay any sums towards securing freightage. That being so ] have done the best thing I can do, and that is to make representations to the shipping companies, and ask them to endeavour to meet the demand." *• It is most important," said Mr Buxton, " that we should take advantage of the opportunity to realise our surplus of grain at the good prices going; but it we cannot get ships we cannot do it. The shipping companies have had,- or are to have, a conference, to see what they can do for us. I have arranged for 10.000 by one of the direct freezer boats, but thev are busy now with frozen meat." The Cliristchurch "Press" states that a number of vessels have been chartered to load grain at Lyttelton, and two of th e m are already alongside loading berths. Besides the time table steamers, during the next few days seven vessels are expected at Lyttelton to load for England, among them being three chartered steamers and a ba'rque. and apparently their duty is to be the carriage of grain. The Clan Grant took in 13.000 sacks at Lyttelton, is now loading 20,000 at Timaru, and will pick up as much at Bluff, for Avonmouth and Glasgow. The Norwegian s.s. Elsa. chartered by Messrs Friedlandcr. and now loading here, will fill up at Lyttelton. These two boats will take away 120,000 or 130,000 sacks.