SHIPPING PRODUCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14354, 28 January 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

SHIPPING PRODUCE.

Those who send Home Borne of their wheat are getting, on the whole quite satisfactory returns. This will no doubt encourage more shipment in the future if such should be necessary to reduce any surplus in wheat that may exist. Conditions are quite different to those which consisted when sailing yessels used to carry our produce. Wheat was very often damaged in transit. In many cafes it had to be dug out of tlio holds of the vessels when the end of the journey was reached. No doubt a lot of wheat was shipped in bad condition sometimes, but this did not altogether account for the losses that were made through the wheat 'arriving at the other end in an unsaleable condition. The excellent steamers which now carry our wheat are as safe for storage purposes, as a granary on shore, and the time taken over the journey is comparatively very short. The wheat before it is is subjected to a certain amount of inspection so that no damp wheat is allowed to go through. It was proved last year that wheat may be quite saleable at the other end even if it had been damaged, provided it was dry at the time of shipment. Th's fact should be noted -by grain growers. It is a huge mistake to thresh out any grain before it is in as good condition as it can reasonably bo got. In harvest time all possible 6peed sliould be mado with the work, but care must be taken with the condition of the grain. No doubt many thousands of pounds have been lost in harvest time through procrastination and mismanagement. Probably an equal amount has been lost though impatience, and an over-anxiety to get the stuff safe in sack or bag, especially the latter. If a. fifteen shilling freight could bo obtained every season, the fear of over-, production unduly cheapening grain in N-tw Zealand would 'be almost completely be done away with. At the expiry of the wheat season, shipping companies are evidently glad to get grain at that freight,. and it, from this year's experience, is no great gamble for farmers to sliip at that rate. Not many farmers J consigned their wheat last season, and those who did received very little encouragement to continue on the same lines this year. They lost nothing by their venture last year, but it is evident that large exporters and the freezing companies have the long end of the stick in sending meat Home. Insurance, freezing rates, freights and other charges are, and perhaps naturally so, all in favourof the freezing company and. the buying exporter. One by point in favour of farmers doing their own consigning is that they then know exactly how things pan out, especially if wool and nelts are also worked up and shipped on owner's account. It is stated that merchants and millers are expecting to gat their wheat at. ; about 3s this season. Farmers will exnect a little more than that. They will not readily take less than 3s 3s a bushel. Those who sent their wheat Home, and found that their venture turned out all right, would not hesitate to do the same again i if they cannot eet a fair price here. They would waii for cheap freights which may he expected about next Slay. Even at a t'weiitv-five shillings freight, a sliejht rise in London would pay for shipping. Wh'eni has remained steady at Home for some t : me. Australian cargoes are quoted 1, at nhou't 3Gs pai- qunrter. Our wheat, if we liav the hid.- to inve it, sh'ouH be i worth "r> to within 2s 'vmiarter of the •*"«tr<ilinn nrw. That mnlces a diff-a-wnce of threepence a bushel, a sufficient marjzln the two wh»ntsif we sueoeed in saving ours ! well.