SHIPPING FREIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2910, 24 October 1916, Page 6

SHIPPING FREIGHTS

DISCUSSED BY THE TARANAKI FARMERS' UNION (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Hawera, October 21. At tho meeting of tho Taxanaki Executive of the Farmers' Union, the question of shipping freights was discussed, when tho chairman, Mr. R. Duun, announced that tho shipping companies wero increasing the freight on wool by ono penny. Be proceeded u> say that a meeting was to be held at Stratford to discuss the position, and he understood that a proposition was to bo made that ovory dairy company, freezing company, and farmers generally bo asked to federate and ask tho Government to put an export tax on all the principal dairy products—meat, wool, etc.—to collect an amount of £3,000,000 to bo used in the purchase of ships in order to break down the present shipping combination. There was no doubt that something should be done; either the Government should take over a lino of ships or subsidise the producers in securing the control of ships in order to cheapen freights. Mr. Buckeridge pointed put that shipping freights was ono of'tho most difficult problems they, had to deal with. The present difficulties wore due to shortage of bottoms. Other countries wero bidding for freight space, and unless Now Zealand camo into line sho would bo loft.

Mr. Maxwell maintained that it was tho duty of tho producers to make it perfectly plain to the shipping companies that if thoy now squeezed them unduly they would, suffer for it in tho long run. Ho considered that the primary products bore such an enormous proportion to the wholo of the Dominion products that a shipping company owned by tho producers, and controlling nineteon-twentioths of tho outward freights and three-quarters of the inward, could dominate the position. Thero would be no trouble _ about (inanco if the farmers combined.

Mr. Buckcridgo referred to some of tho difficulties the farmers would have to meet. They had in New Zealand shipping, companies behind which were other and tho most powerful shipping companies ; in the world, and that would require tho most powerful combination to combat, and tho further they inquired into tho matter tho more difficult they could sec tho fight would bo. ■ But the time was coming when fanners would organise as a business, and take up this fight, and with such a powerful combination as they could creato thoy could in the end control the shipping and regulate their freights. At tho present' time, continued Mr. Buckoridge, shipping companies had to go outside their own vessels and charter others to carry produce, and as Australia, South Africa, and Japan woro competing for space, it was only natural that the shipping companies should sell it to tho best advantage, just as tho farmers would expect to take advantago of tho best markets offering for their produce They, had to choose tho lessor of. two evils—cither to hid for tho space, as others wero doing, oven at an exorbitant figure, or he left. They were powerless at present to.do anything further than voico an expression of opinion against those high freights. ' The chairman said ho quite recognised they were up against a strong combination, and if' tho producors mado a. movo in the direction of securing their own shipping thoy would have to start with sufficient boats to do tho whole job. It would ho fatal to start; with one or two boats, for the simple reason that tho shipping companies would then refuse to take any of their produce, and thou they would ho left stranded. It was a gigantic concern to go into, but with thorough organisation and combination it should bo possible to grapple with it. If their protest did not bring forth an explanation from the shipping companies justifying their present increases in freight, they would bo ready to organise and fight. On the motion of the chairman, it was unanimously resolved:—"That this executive, is in full sympathy with Sir James Wilson's protest as regards freight, and realises that the time has come when producers should consider tho question of combining so as to havo entire control of all shipping necessary to carry both their export and import trade."' o

CUT DOWN TYRE COSTS. USE "FIRESTONES." Extra tread, extra side wall, extra coating of finest rubber between fabric plies —these aro three of seven reasons •why "Firestone" Tyres give "most miles for the money." The demand for 'Tirestones" lias made tho manufacturers tlio largest producers in America, specialising on tyres and rims. Try out a "Firestone" Tyro on your car, and demonstrate for yourself that they giro greater mileage. Further particulars from A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., Waiiganui, agents for New Zealand— Advt.'