THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 5

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

LOCAL UNION FAVOURABLE,

PROPOSED FARMERS’ LINE

Mr J. McPherson ,of the Wheat Control Commi tee, who formed one of the depu- ' tation that waited on the provincial confer ence of the Farmers’ Union yesterday in connection with the Government’s wheal growing appeal, mentioned the matter of j a line of ships owned by the dominion pro- ] ducers. He said that it had been sugi gested that the producers of New Zealand j should take back the money to be paid as surplus wool profits in the proposed shipping company. It had been estimated that any- | thing from £4,000,000 to £6,000,000 was j coming back to the farmers of New Zca- | land. A very considerable increase in Ihe cost of freights was to be expected in consequence of the shipping being operated by combines.

Two remits on the shipping question were then considered as follow Oteramika—That owing to undue delay in shipping Southland produce the conference consider the question of purchasing one or more steamers for our own use.

Waikaka Valley.—That the time is now opportune for the Farmers’ Union to seriously consider the shipping question with a view to establishing a Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Shipping Company.

Mr A. Smith moved the remits and Mr A J. Nichol seconded them.

Mr W. Ford sfiid that the dairy industry was interested and the dairymen should be given an opportunity of coming into the scheme. Mr W. Couser stated that the suggestion of giving the wool profits into a shipping line was mere camouflage of the worst description. Why should the fanners’ wool profits go into a shipping business to carry the produce of the dominion? lie would object strongly to such proposal.

Mr E. Bowmar said (hat the Wellington conference hud been of (he opinion that shipping was a good proposition and lie quoted the experience of the Canadian Government, which had paid for their steamers out of freights, lie further slated that the large shipping combination was not going to cut rates and they would have to suffer. Some scheme would have to he adopted to meet (he situation and he would be prepared to put his profits in‘o one. Mr .MacPherson said that the proposal emanated from the farmers and not the capitalists. They had been advised that they would get eleven or twelve boats this month to remove produce but the companies had broken that pledge. Not once had the companies since the commandeer fulfilled their pledges. They hail laid up ships in the past and had stated that they did not give a dump what the Government would do with regard to shipping and would run any Government line out of the market. That was- a direct threat from the companies. The proposal was a .simple one, and was put forward after investigation by their representatives. It was not a question for fanners alone. Ho asked them as sensible men whether a properly equipped line of steamers would be in the ini ores's of the producers, and an opportunity presented itself that had never been more favourable. The profits could be taken out in sort pi and they would not be called upon to put out extra capital. Mr A. McCall said that the dairymen would be more than favourable towards the scheme, as (hey wanted their produce to reach the markets as quickly as possible.

Mr McPherson said that it would be advisable to get the co-operation of the Government as its assistance would lie needed to fight the shipping combination. Mr A. L. Nichol moved “that if it be found passible to apply the wool profits accruing under the commandeer to the creation of a dominion producers’ co-opera-tive shipping line the wool growers receive scrip in accordance with their individual profits, (he delegates to the dominion conference be instructed to support such a scheme at the ensuing conference.” The motion was seconded by Mr K. Bowmar ami carried by a large majority.