PRODUCE SHIPMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 6

PRODUCE SHIPMENTS

WANGANUI AND DAIRY BOARD FACTORY SEEKS INFORMATION Though the Kaitieke Dairy Company has visions of shipping its produce through tho port of Wanganui, there is a clause in the contract completed between the overseas shipping companies and the Dairy Export Control Board which prohibits that course unless the company makes itself liable for the coastwise freight to Wellington. At yesterday’s meeting of the Harbour Board a letter from the Kaitieke Company was received advising that, in the past, it had shipped through Auckland. It was contemplating niaking a change to Wanganui, and desired particulars of the expense involved. The secretary of the Harbour Board (Mr W. J. Gardner) had written the Dairy Board asking whether it was permissible for the produce to come through this port. The board had replied that it was quite permissible, but as Kaitieke had been shipping through Auckland previously the particular clause in the agreement made with the shipping companies regarding factories changing th'eir original port, of shipment affected the matter. This provided that in the event of a change of port being made the company would not call upon the shipping companies to lift produce direct. Consequently the coastal freight from Wanganui to Wellington would be the responsibility of the Kaitieke Company. “That is the difficulty,” remarked Mr J. T. Hogan, ALP. On Air J. Patterson’s motion it was decided that the company be advised that the Dairy Board holds the key to the position at present, but when at some future date, the shipping agreement runs out the Harbour Board would probably be in a position to deal with the matter.

THAT FREIGHT CONTRACT WANGANUI SHIPMENTS Correspondence from the Hon. W. A. Veitch, read at yesterday’s meeting oi the Wanganui Harbour Board, cast further light on the inclusion of the clause bearing on shipments of dairy produce through Wanganui and included in the contract made with the Dairy Control Board and the Overseas Shipping Com panics. Air Veitch advised that he had laid the whole matter before the Minister of Industries and Commerce and forwarded the following observations on the matter received from that gentleman : “1 have noted the suggestion that when the new shipping contract is being prepared that provision should be made to guard the interests of the Wanganui Harbour Board as outlined in your letter, and also that the agreement should be submitted to the Government for final ratification. I have to point out that tho negotiations in regard to shipping contracts for the carriage of dairy produce is a matter exclusively for the Dairy Produce Board which, under present conditions, is not subject to State or Departmental con trol. The board, as at present constituted, is composed of nine members representing the co-operative dairying interests, one representing the proprietary interests and two Government nominees. The board is constituted by Act of Parliament under the Dairy Export Control Act, 1923. The appointment of Government nominees is made through the Department of Agriculture. “I would suggest, under these circumstances, that the dairying interests who are affected by the clause in the shipping contract should place their representations regarding the contract before the Dairy Produce Board. “With reference to the statement made by the secretary of my Department that the present contract was unanimously agreed to, 1 submit, for your information, an extract from the minutes of the meeting of the Dairy Produce Control Board held on Alay 29, 1930, at which meeting the conditions of the shipping contract were agreed to. You will note that while the minutes do not state definitely that the resolution was unanimously agreed to, there is no mention of any member dissenting. Present: Alcssrs Hine (acting chairman), H. T. Chapman, J. R. Gorri gan, J. Dunlop, B. Fergusson, DynesFulton, W. Grounds, W. Lee; Govern ment nominees, Alessrs E. E. Reynolds and T. A. Winks; merchants' representative, Mr W. I). Hunt. Shipments from Wanganui: The cable from London indicated that the shipping companies should not load direct at Wanganui or pay coastal freight on dairy produce other than that from factories whoso produce was going to Wanganui when the first freight contract was made with the board. The secretary gave particulars of what produce would be affected in this connection, and with the exception of two factories in the neighbourhood of Palmerston North, the only produce that would be affected was that coming from Southern Hawke’s Bay. “The board agreed to the condition demanded by the shipping companies in this direction.” Copies of further correspondence handled by Air Veitch regarding the same matter were read, but were taken by the board in committee. On the motion of Mr J. T. Hogan. M.P.. it was decided to write ami thank Mr Veitch for the steps he had taken in the matter.