CHEAPER FREICHTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1477, 10 June 1905, Page 3

CHEAPER FREICHTS.

IMPORTANT MOVEMENT. Regarding telegrams appearing in our yesterday’s issue, that tho Premier had intimntod to a deputation at Oamaru that

tho Government woro determined that froights should ho more in lino with those in Australis, and a further telegram from Dunedin that a saving of jG'25,000 in | freights to tho d&iryiug industry was being arranged, Mr W. Douglas Lysnar informs us that he, with two other membors of the directorate of the Gisborne Shoopfarmors’ I Frozen Meat Company, have boon inter- I eating thomsolves in the matter for some j time past and collecting information in 1 that direction. Ho informs us that if we I oauld souuro the same froights as Australia I

pays it would bo a saving of about rSIS.OOO I a year (based on last yoar’s output) at tho I Gisborne .freezing Works alone, and I overyihing is pointing in tho direction of , oboaper freights by competition beiog I , introduced into tho New Zealand trade. I ,

It seems the New Zealand Dairying Association in Auckland ara moving in the matter, as well a. 3 the National Dairy Association in Dunedin. Mr W. Spragg, the manager of the former, has already been in communication with Mr Lysnar, as representing his Okitu Buttor Factory, suggesting a conference to bo hold in Auokland on the subjeot, and asking for any suggestions. Mr Lysnar has handed us a copy of his reply to this letter, which wo publish, as well as two other telegrams Iho has sent on the aarno matter, whioh speak for thomsolves Wo understand the importance of the Government noting in the matSor is to bo brought before the Hon. J. Carroll bv.the Farmers’ Union at their meeting whioh is to bo held this afternoon.

To Wesley Spragg, Esq., Managini Director N.Z. Dairying Association Ltd., Auokland. inst., re better facilities for carriage ol dairy produce along the coast and freights on same to England, and I very much approoiato your efforts, Bind will be glad to take advantage of your good efforts so far a 3 my Okitu butter factory is concerned. ! Begarding the question of cheaper freights to England; this is a very vital matter, and wants to be taken up in real earnest by the commercial men of this colony, so as to secure cheaper freights for our frozen and other produce of all kinds. I may say that, as- a director of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Moat Co., Ltd., I havß for some, time past been giving this matter a considerable amount of attention, and it seems to me that the first thing to do is to keep a free hand at all times, so that we can offer our freights to any line of steamers offering the best facilities. The great curse of the past has been brought about by the 'large shippers 'such as the freezing companies of the solony) making contracts with one line of ■teamers to carry all the freights for three Jr five years ahead; this stops other lines making a start. Thero is a stroDg movement going on just now in this colony to renew all old contracts in order to secure the meat freights for the next five y. ars, by the present shipping companies by offering a small concession on the pi esaas freights. 1 From information collected, it seems that Australia, while being about the same distance from England as New Zealand, gets her butter carried for practically half what we pay in New Zealand, and her meat at £d per lb cheaper, while the Australian boats go through the Suez and ours a longer route round the Cape. Australia sends home less than 1 million carcases of mutton, while we in New Zealand ship about 4 millions. The quantities of butter I have not available, but I venture to think that our export of butter will be as large—if not larger than Australia. The distanoe which the boats, in order to get a load,have to travel in New Zealand, as compared with Australia is but a very small disadvantage, and I am informed by a high authority on shipping in Australia that this „ is nothing at all if the boat can get a full ~ cargo. X understand that there are at least three vary strong line 3 in Australia who are anxious to get a cut into the New Zealand trade. Any one of these is strong enough to put on a fortnightly service through the season if they could secure sufficient inducement to moke a start. They must have some freights sure, otherwise they will not start. Besides these, there are other liues anxious to start. I have been In communication with Mr C. Onyon, of Messrs J. B. Patterson and Co., Wellington, who is representing a very strong shipping firm in England, whieh is anxious to start Id the New Zealand trade, and, X understand, is prepared to put on a line of 12 boats if sufficient inducement offers. X would recommend you to communicate with him and see how far you can aid this movement. Efforts are being made through Mr Onyon to get a new line to start on the basis of the Australian freights, and this movement is X know being strongly supported, and I am sure will get fairly good support from this district.

If you do hold a conference in Auckland shortly to consider the matter, as you suggest, I will be very pleased to make it convenient to attend. You can bear in mind that, generally speaking, the wool of this colony is free to be shipped by any line the farmer may direct, and this, I think, is a very important factor in inducing a new line to start by beiDg able to guarantee a speoifio quantity o£ wool a 3 cargo, as well as frozen freight. Trusting that you will bo successful in your good work, and you can accept my assurance that I will do all in my power to aid you from thia district. I am, yours faithfully, W. DOUGLAS LYSNAR.

Secretary, National Dairy Association, Dunedin. Hope your Association will delay concluding new freight contract for butter, as important movement now taking place to get butter and meat freights brought into line with Australia by introducing new line of steamers, which mcoDS lower butter freights than now offered you, and more direot route through Suez. LYSNAR, Proprietor Okitu Factory. Spragg, Manager Dairy Association, Auckland. Hope you will use best endeavors to stop National Dairy .Association concluding new contract for butter freights until after conference and matter further considered. Only urgency lies with extreme anxiety of shipping company to conclude contract at earliest moment to shut out opposition. LYSNAR.