OUR PRODUCE TRADE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 130, 23 September 1913, Page 1

OUR PRODUCE TRADE.

Shipments to America. Auckland Province Handicapped. Tax on Butter Industry. Sir.—On the 27th August I wrote to the Prims Minister on the question of transport facilitfes tor trade with America. The position has charged somewhat in the interval, and I have, therefore, written to the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited, and to the Prime Minister as per copies which I sand herewith. I have also writien to the Auckland members of Parliament in similar teim?. It is tco tjad that Auckland interests should be handicapped as those of Wellington, and while I generally deprecate parochialism, 1 think that the present posiion is such that it should be ventilated as a means of securing reform. Anything which you can do in this direction will, I am sure, be appreciated by Ihe dairving interest* right through the Auckland province.— Yours, etc,

H. E. PACE*, General Manager N.Z. Dairy Association. Auckland, September 18th. "To the Manager, "Union Sttam Ship Company of N.Z., Ltd., "Auckland:— "Dear Sir, —We recently cjrrespondid re the American trade. I put before you facts and figures which showed that Auckland is, and has been, in a relatively worsa position than Wellington in respect of the freight charge on butter, and in respect of trade with San Francisco, Auckland is in a worse position than last year.

"Since last writing you the position has been made worse as far as the comparison between Auckland and Wellington is concerned. It haj been announced that Eubject 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 required to pay on butter to San Francisco Id per lb plus a coastal freight of from one-fifth of a penny to a farthing per lb, according to which route is used. Thus the handicap of which I complained in my recent communications to you is increased. "1 now ask that the handicap be removed, and that the same opportunity be extended to Auckland as has already been graatad to Wellington in respect of the through freight. I am not aware why we should be required to pav more than we paid last year, neither am 1 aware of any reason why we should not have the same advantages us Wellington in this respect.

"Last wesson my Aes.ciatron went to a lot of trouble and expense in opening up business wiih California, and the response has been of a most gratifying bind. We have fought our way through the initial discouragements and disadvantages, ar>d a large business is opening up before this province. It promises to become quite as impoitant as the business already established with Canada, and I view with grave concern the present handicap upon the Auckland trade.

"You were gocd enough to promise to sard on my representations of the 27th August to your head office, and 1 have awaited a reply which, unfortucately, has rot come. I understand a new contract is being arranged between the Government and the Company for tne San Francisco service, sj I am again writing the Prime Minister on the subject, and the Auckland members also, in hope that the anomaly complained of may be removed, and that A-ickland may have the eame advantages as Wellington in tie same freight to both Vancouver and San Francisco. May I ask that you will be good enough to make representations to your head office in the same direction 9 The new season's business ia tew pending, ar.d the matter is one of urgency.-H. E. PACEY." "The Honourable W. F. Massty, M.P., "Wellington:-- - "Dear Sir,—On the 27th Auguet I wrote to you abcut the trai sport facilities for trade with America. You were good enough to reply on 3rd September 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 tte position in respect of the Wellington trade, but Auckland is still in the same unfortunate position of disadvantage. Personally, I deprecate arguments of a parochial kind, but it would appear tbat 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 'eqaare deal' in connection with the transport facilities for the American butter trade, and I concur in most of wtat has been said. The provision that spice should be applied for forthwith covering requirements for the whclj season is altogether unusual, and constitutes a serious hindrance to business. Further, the freight charges are unusually high, atrociously high indsed, when a farthing is added for coastal 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 opportunity ot shipping both to San Fraucisco and Vancouver at a through rate of Id per lb, which is more than ample comparison with freight charge* in 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. 1 understand that a new contract is being negotiated between the Government and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited, in respect of the San Francisco trade, and I am therefore repressnting matters to you in the hope that the anomaly of which I complain, ar.d which constitutes a serious menace 10 Auckland commerce may be removed under the new contract. A number of important orders for San Francisco are now in hand, but very Eeriou3 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 obtains between San Francisco and other ports of the Dominon. I trust that it will ba possible for you to take prompt action in securing this reform.—H. E. PACEY."