NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 307, 23 September 1919, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING

WOOL FREIGHTS

SIR WALTER BUCHANAN TAKES THE ■->■,•;■ i FIELD

In the London "Times" of August 1 is published a letter from Sir Walter Buohanau; , M.L.C., on the subject of wool-cargoes and shipping, which will be of interest to' all producers concerned with the question of freights. The letter reads as,follows:— ■; ; -."(To "the Editor, of "The. Times.") '.' Sir,- —For nearly twenty years I have been a director of a settlers' shipping company in New Zealand, known as G. H. J Seales (Limited), whose shares, under 'their'articles of association, can be owned only by sheep-owners and country settlers, and whose aim has consistently Wen'to jseoure shipping freight to Eekland for; wool and other uiirefrigerated prodnce'at reasonable rates.

'The company owns no shipping, ana, carrying on its business entirely by chartering steamers in the open market, is well'known to havo annually saved to the producer rdnring its career many thoii,sands of pounds by maintaining freights at a reasonable level.

The advent of the war, however, -unfortunately compolled the ooinmandeering of all British ships (including liners) by the Imperial Government, who henceforth controlled the allocations of all the available tonnage. At the same time, however, they appointed tho liner owners their sole loading agents in New Zealand on a commission basis—in spite of tin , fact_ that ordinary cargo vessels, as well as liners wore included in the allocations. Thus the effect upon the Scales Company was twofold—thoy wero unable to continue chartering, and were noi allowed to act as. loading agents even for steamers not owned by the liner people. ■. A_ later departure, early this year, wlich became known only after the ■event, was the lotting by private contract to the liners of all the wool carriage from New Zealand, without any notification whatever to Messrs. Scales or to the piin- : lio generally. Late in May, Mr. Massey -the Prime Minister of New Zealnnd— and myself beoamo aware of Hin raattpr, and we waited on Lord Inverforth .to remonstrate against tho injustice with ..which , the New Zealand Settlers' Company was being treated, and on, Mav 30 Afr. Massey received a letter, of which, tho following is an extract:—"Four or five months,hence the time will come to make arrangements for the 1920 won! : freight requirements. Wβ! shall notify the; agents of the Scales Oompaiir. Messrs. Lawther, Latta, and Co., in'duo ■course." . ■ . , Judge of my surprise on returning f roin Scotland a few days ago to be handed h ; notice' by Messrs. Lawther, La ttn, and Co., dated July 10, from Sir A. 11. Goldfinch, of the Ministry of Munitions (Sup- • ply), that .tenders wero not already closed—for the carriage of the 1920;.. wool referred to in Lord Inver■forth's letter as to be dealt with in four 'or five months from May 30. I waited next day uppn Sir Arthur Goldfinch, and was given till 5 o'clock on the following ' day 'to put in a tender." In vain I pointed'out'to him the absolute impossibility of tendering without first cablin" to .Scales (Limited) in New Zealand, wlin could,not possibly feply within the time allowed. Next day I secured an interview with Lord Inverforth. 'who, though ■unable.to come to an immediate decision; ;was, in manner and courtesy, just the opposite to his icy subordinate, and consented to see Mr. Latta next day who' offered him two first-class ships "for th>. latter half of next year to carry 60.000 pales of wool on the same terms and conditions as the liners. Lord jnverfnrth states he has the matter under consideration, though' I have a shrewd suspicion that tho contract was pretty well fixed Tip before he even saw me. ■

■ Summed iip, the position, therefore is that the action of tho Imperial Government, if persisted in, will have the Tβsult of securing to the shipping: combine the entire control, of-the only means by. which the .New Zealand producer can reach the markets of the United Kingdom. In view of the assurance that four or, five months would be allowed for the consideration of the terms of the new contract,-it is distinctly disquieting to find it ■ being rushed throuslu in favour of the shipping companies without a day's delay, directly a personal representative of the settlers appears.on the scene to put forward their legitimate claims; but very significantly, there is no move for a similarcontract in respect of frozen meat and. dairy produce, because the Settlers' Company neither owns, nor can it charter, refrigerated tonnage, which is not in the markot. , ■ •

■ "4J; the ;beginning of the war tho New Zealand settler was urged to assist in feeding the Mother Country, with lis ■produce,.and he was proud to do so-at , a, cost, .which compares more than favourably that from any other possible > source of supply. In other directions, ■too, Hew. Zealand has responded to tho . call'of Empire, and admittedly has dono , Jar ■duty.. Doubtless she will continue to do bo, but in return tho people of the Dominion ask that the Mother'Countrv shall consider her just claims and deal .sympathetically witty all questions affecting her welfare. It is on these grounds .■thai Lurge the necessity of the recon. mderation. of the wool .freight contract. .. If this is concluded in the interests of th» shipping combine.; Hie effect will be to. discourage the. settlers and cause dis- ■ satisfaction and discontent. The watchword of the Home Government through-, out war has "Unity of purpose and co-operation with the overseas dotheir action in. this matter'tends in an entirely oDposit» direction and is calculated to imneril thattmlty'-'and good feeling which have hitherto-subsisted in tho relationship between New Zealand and the Mother ■ Country.—l am, Sir, youre faitMnlly, . W. 0., BUCHANAN. i Langham Hotel, Portland Place, W.I, August 6.' "■■