A PRODUCERS' SHIPPING COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 4

A PRODUCERS' SHIPPING COMPANY

PROPOSAL BEFORE DAIRY ■ CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Special Reporter. Palmerston North, June 20. At the Dairy Conference here to*lay' a proposal from last year was brought forward to the effect that the time had arrived to join with the meat, wool, and other, producers to take steps to become part owners of the oversea shipping required for the Dominion, oversea freightage. This was to have been moved by Mr. J. Marx (Mangatoki), but in his absence it was moved by the chairman, Mr. A. Morton (Egmont Village). Mr. Morton said that the matter had been discussed even before the war. If the scheme was. to be gone on with it 6hould be financed through a levy, on all the exporters of the Dominion, and the Government should assist. Jf tho basis were not a sound one he suggested success could not bo assured. The "resolution was non-committal—it was merely an expression of opinion. Mr. H. D. Forsyth (Eltham) seconded the motion. Mr. TV. D. Powdrcll (KaupoSonui) said all the producers must bo la the scheme. If some carried tho load while others looted on the fight against tho shipping combine would fail. Mr. P. Nathan (J. Nathan and Co.) thought the conference should act, and not merely express opinions. If they needed a capital of £5,000,000 to begin with, why not levy on the producers {or per year for five vears, then if the Government agreed •to irat in .£2.50,000 a year for the same period the .£5,000,000 would be provided. Mr. Nathan moved that the Government should raise capital to instal a lino of staamcrs to carry New Zealand produce by means of a. levy on the producers, less any sum the Governmont decided to subscribe. Mr. Williams (Mere Mere) said the combine whs becoming stronger year by year, and the recent big merger was one of the most strikinj: things for New Zealand farmers.

Mr. Powdrell said ho had attended a conference in Wellington on this subject, and thevo it was shown that recent freight rises had meant £6,000,000 to tho Dominion. Mr. Nathan's amondnienfc -was adopted.