The Hokitika Guradian MONDAY, JULY 31st. 1922. HOME FREIGHTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guradian MONDAY, JULY 31st. 1922. HOME FREIGHTS.

Tiikbk in no duiilifc that. in the matter of shipping freights affecting produce sent Home, the Dominion is under a heavy impost which is having a serious effect on the farming returns accruing within New Zealand. “This country is practically working for nothing,” declared .Mr Massey, in the course of a statement in the House" last week on high freights and other charges on New Zealand produce. He contrasted present freights with Argentine freights showing that New Zealand was nt a serious disadvantage and he also suggested. that railway freights must come down. “Is it true,” asked Mr Burnett. “that the Meat Board of the Government are negotiating for the purchase of n line of refrigerated steamers?” Mr Massey replied that he could not answer for the Moat Board, hut he could sav on behalf of the Government that it was not negotiating for the purchase of shipping, though the position was receiving the closest at. tention for the obvious reason that Now Zealand producers were at a great disadvantage compared with their competitors in foreign countries. Mr Massey proceeded to give the House details of pre-war freights and present freights from the Argentine to England. The present freight on mutton from New Zealand was 151 per cent in excess of the pre-war rate, while on lamb the increase wn.s 148 per cent. though Argentine freight was only 75 per cent in excess of pre-war rates. “This is what we are coming to,” said the Premier. We could not expect to receive a higher price than pre-war for our produce, therefore we ought to see that the cost of production, was not higher than pre-war, otherwise wo would get into financial trouble and never get out of the present depression. Freight on frozen sundries from New Zealand was 258 per cent in excess of pre- ?wnr rates, yet Argentine frozen sundries were carried nt 40 per cent in excess of former rates. Now Zealand panned goods had To pny 1121 per cent mere, but Argentine canned goods bore only 40 per cent One tn]lnw hop ss(l per pn'T rip; 1 P p lL

tine’s tallow 17 per cent. He could continue his list indefinitely, as he had received quite a number of communications from those eoneerned in the matter. Members could understand the importance of lowering freights from the point of view of the whole country’s interest. At this stage Mr Holland asked what was the explanation of the high freights. Mr Massey sad : ‘‘l am sorry not to he able to supply that information but shipowners say expen-, ses have so enormously increased that they must keep up their charges. However, something will have to be done to get freights and other charges back to where they were before the war. Not only shipping charges are needing attention. Railway charges will have to be reduced, also the cost of freezing and other charges at this end, and the cost of financing. This country is practically working for nothing and having great difficulty in holding its own. Very strenuous efforts must he made to improve the position.” The Premier read a cable from Mr Jessup, vicechairman of the Meat Board, who now is in London, stating that Fort- of London Authority was making reductions in storage ehnrges on produce, which he remarked were satisfactory as far as they went. Now that the shipping season was approaching, nothing should be left undone to se-

cure the reductions so urgently needed. From the foregoing it will be seen that the question is of the highest import to the general welfare of the Dominion, and the closest attention requires to he raid to the matter by those iti iiiithoritv;