ALLEGED PREFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 7

ALLEGED PREFERENCE

IN SHIPPING DAIRY PRODUCE DEPUTATION TO MR. MASSEY Allegations of unfair preference by tho shipping companies in favour of dairy produce from one agency over all other dairy produce offering wero made by a deputation representing the Bristol and Dominion Producers' Association which waited on tho Prime Minister on Saturday morning. Certain other statements were mado, but less strenuously pressed, to tho effect that shipping companies trading to New Zealand had entered into a combine.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar, the chief speaker for tho deputation, mado this last statement above referred to and also declared that at least two of the shipping. companies had entered into the American Shipping Ring, which was closely connected with the trusts. He could not say that the American Shipping Ring was associated with the Meat Trust, but he claimed that ho bad reason to believe it was. He knew of two instances in which dairy producers had been told by the companies that they must enter into sixyear contracts; otherwise they would not get their stuff shipped. In reply ti Mr. Massey he promised to let Mr. Massey have .the correspondence concerning these two instances, and added that ho had been refused carriage for his stuff in Wellington, by the New Zealand Shipping Company. He had applied for space a month or two ago, and had been told that he must apply through the National Dairy Association.. After Mr. Massey made a certain statement in tho House ho was told he could have space for his butter, but not for 'his cheese, of.which there were only 76 boxes. He had previously dealt through tho National Dairy Association in order to. get his produco away, but ho was determined to have no further dealings with it. He had practically had a pistol held at his 'head- to force him into the association, but he intended to stay out of it.

Mr._ Massoy said he believed the association was' only for the convenience of producers, to keep a man in Wellington to look 'after the producers' interests.

Mr. Lysnar said that this was the general opinion, but ho asserted that he had reason to believe otherwise. He had been told by the secretary of one dairy company (which he named) that th© National Dairy Association had written to him asking tliat a contract should 1 be entered into by the company to ship its goods tlio association for six years. If it did not do so, space could not bo guaranteed for their products. He (Mr. Lysnar) thought the Government should take action to prevent individuals from lioldiug up any section of tho industry. Mr. Massoy said he regretted that Mr. Lysnar had not tendered his statements in evidence before the Parliamentary Committee sitting to investigate affairs connected with shipping. "Show mo a dairy icompany that can't get its produce away, and I will tako action,' ho said. • Mr. Lysnar said he could supply the correspondence in two cases. He urged that the Commercial Trusts Act should bo amended this session to prevent any arrangement with shipping companies by one section of exporters to tho detriment of other exporters. Mr. James Macintosh, a member of the deputation, said that he did not agree with some of tho statements made b'v'Mr. Lysnar, and.ho. added that tho matter complained of had boon investigated by tho Chamber of Commerce, and that the result was to be found in the last annual report of that body. Mr. H. G. Hill said tliat members of his association, which was an association of producers, and. not in opposition to the National Dairy Association, had to become members of the National Dairy Association in order to get space for tho of their produce. His association had no locus standi with- tho shipowners. Mr. Massey said he hoped the members of the deputation would tender evidence before tho Parliamentary Committee investigating the shipment _ of produce from New Zealand. He had set up the committee, and gone exhaustively into the question, because he had been told that not enough ships would be available to oarry our produce Home. He was glad to say that this advice appeared to be incorrect. He read a list (already published in The Dominion) • of the ships available for Homeward frozen cargo.

Mr. Lysnar: No one of our association can get a box of butter shipped by those boats. ' 'Mr. Massey: Do you mean to say that they will send their boats away half empty to gratify a grudge against your association? Mr: Lysnar: Yes, sir, and it happened in my case. I had 850 boxes of butter to ship from Gisborne. I arranged with the Tyser Company in Gisborne for their shipment, hut the secretary at Napier said they would not take it unless it went through tho National Dairy Association.

The Prime Minister: If these people won't give me an ixplanation I will send for them to go before the oommittee. You should go hefore that committee and givo the evidence you have given me this morning, and give them the opportunity of looking into ib Whether you do so or not I will ask tho shipping oompanies for an explanation. Ho was, he added, informed that any factory could join tho National Dairy Association for £5. Mr. Lysnar: They asked mo to pay £15 or they wouldn't take my stuff. Mr. Massey: I will not only ask for an explanation, but I will publish it.