FARMERS’ STEAMSHIPS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2095, 26 February 1920, Page 2

FARMERS’ STEAMSHIPS.

A SUGGESTION arising from the Wellington, sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union that the pro-, ducers and freezing companies in New Zealand should establish their own lino of steamers as an offset to the excessive rates on cargo ruling at present, came before a meeting at Palmerston North recently. Mr Ewan Campbell (Wanganui) spoke emphatically against the suggestion of establishing a line, of steamships. The whole world was building ships, and the cost of getting one insulated vessel suitable to the trade would be between &j?i0,000 and £500,001). There was not the slightest doubt that some day in the near future there would he ships lying in the harbours of New Zealand with no freights forthcoming. It had happened before, and the community should be guided by previous experience. Personally” he would not'put money into such a. project. One of the greatest troubles with shipping from New Zealand to England was the back freight. Trading vessels went To ali parts of the world to gather cargoes when returning to New Zealand, and in some cases came out in ballast. Such, then, was a dead loss, and increased freight charges had to be made to counter-balance it. In any case, the existing shipping companies were dependent for their existence on New Zealand export, produce, and would he prepared to meet the exporters, in arriving at an equable agreement; Other members spoke in favour of a conference between .shipping 'Companies, merchants, and producers, with the idea, in view of fixing an ei(liable-scale of freight charges. The matlcr was put in the form of a recommendation lo tho Dominion executive, and carried unanimously.