FREIGHT ON BUTTER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 605, 24 September 1913, Page 7

FREIGHT ON BUTTER.

THE AMERICAN MARKET. The New Zasisnd Dairy Association har. been msuing representations concerning tba freight charges between Auckland and San Francisco and the following loiters have been forwarded by the general manager of the Association to the P.'iine Minister and to the manager of the Unoin Steamship Company : —■ Auckland, September IStb, 1913. Hon. W. F. Mnsiey, M.P., Wellington. Dear Sir,—On the 27th August I wrote to you about the transport facilities for trade with Amercia. You were go 3d Enough to reply on September 3rd that the matter was engaging your attention, but I have not yet heard what reform, if any, has been secured, and as the new season's business is now pending, the matter has become one of outstanding urgency. Since I last wrote to you a change has been made in the position in respect of the Wellington trade, but Auckland, is still in the game unfortunate position of disadvantage. I have addressed the manager of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, Ltd., on the subject, a3 per copy which I enclose for your information. Personally I deprecate arguments of a parochial kind but it would appear that these arguments have been used by the Wellington interests in securing the concession which has been granted, and therefore cannot be entirely overlooked by us. There has been a good deal of reference in Wellington to a "square deal" in connection with the transport facilities for the American butter trade, and I concur in moat of what has been said. The provision that space should be applied for forthwith covering requirement* for the whole season ii altogether unusual, and constitutes a serious hindrance to business. Further, the freight charges ara unusually high, atrociously high indeed wiien |d is aided for coat?al freight to the ordinary freight of Id per lb. Apparently this fact has been recognised as far as Wellington is concerned, for under certain conditions that city now has the opnortunity of shipping both to San Francisco and Vancouver at a through rate of Id per lb which is more than ample by comparison with freight charges m connection with any other business which is known to us. The question now arises why should Auckland not have the opportunity of shipping to both Canada and San Francisco at a through rate of Id per lb. I understand that a new contract is being negotiated betwnen the Government and the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, Limited, in respect of the San Francisco trade, and I am therefore representing matters to you in the hope that the anomaly of which I complain and which constitutes a serious menace to Auckland commerce may be removed under the new contract. A number of important orders for San Francicso are now in band, but very serious, trouble will follow and future business will be prejudiced if it is found that the freight charge is greater than obtained when the trial shipments were sent, and considerably greater than ob tains between San Francisco and other parts of the Dominion. I trust that it will be possible for you to take prompt action in securing this reform. —Yours faithfully, (Signed) H. E. PACEY. General Manager. Auckland, . September 18th, 1913. The Manager, Union Steamship Company of N.Z., Ltd., Auckland.

Dear Sir, We recently corresponded re the American trade, I put before you facts and figures which showed that Auckland is, and haß been, in a relatively worse position than Wellington in respect of the freight charge on butter, and in respect of trade witK? San Francisco, Auckland is in a worse position than last ypar. / Since last writing you the position has been made worse as far as the comparison between Auckland and Wellington is concerned. It has been announced that subject to certain conditions Wellington merchants will have the opportunity of sending to either San Francisco or Vancouver at a through rate of Id per lb. According to last advice Auckland merchants will be ivqjired to pay on butter to San Francisco id per lb plus a coastal freight of from l-5d to Id per lb, according to which l-oute is used. Thus the handicap of which I complained in my recent communications to you is increased. I now ask that the handicap be removed, and that the same opportunity be extended to Auckland as has arleady been granted to Wellington in *esptctof the through freight. I am not aware why wo shouid be required to pay more than we paid last year, neither am I aware of any reason why we should not have the same advantages as Wellington in this respect. Last season my association went to a lot of trouble and expense in opening up business with California, and the response has been of a most gratifying kind. We have fought our way through the initial discouragements and disadvantages, and a large business is opening up before this province. It promises to become quite as important as the business established with Canada, and I yiav. with grave concern the present handicap upon, the Auckland trade, you were G'ood enough to promise to sand en my representations of August 27th to your head office, and I have awaited a reply, which unfortunately ha: net come. I understand anew contract is being arranged between the Government and the company for the San Francisco srevice, so I am writing the Prime Minister on the subject, and the Auckland, members also, in ho;jc that toe anouially complained of may be .-'.'moved, and that Auck- . land may have the same advantages :.s

General Manager.