SHIPPING SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 October 1919, Page 5

SHIPPING SHORTAGE.

FARMERS MUCH ALARMED. The shortage of shipping and the -high fraightagg ruling was the subject of a remit considered by the conference of the Council of ‘Agriculture on Wednesday. The Feilding A. and P. Society forwarded the following remit: -—“That conference bring before the Government the serious position of the farming community owing to the shortage of insulated shipping, and the consequent congestion of, meat in the cold stores of the Dominion.-” Sir J-.unesVWilcson, speaking to the remit, said that the farmers were alarmed at the prospect of having to pay higher freights, and they could not see how to place themselves in a. stronger position. It was significant, in regard to the possirbiliities of exploitation in the shipping monopoly, that £IOO shares in the P. and 0 Company, after its combination with other Compan_ieS in this part. of the world, had risen to £6OO. This ‘seemed to indicate that the company practically had control of freights in the southern hemisphere. Thefarmers did’ not favour" the idea of Government control. All they desired was reasonable rates, and it might do some good if the ‘advisability of chartering shipping was suggested to the Government. Sir Walter Buchanan sa.id that evidence was not wanting that the Imperial Government had played absolutely into the hands of the shipping combines. The farmers should see that they got justice. They should combine and if necessary charter ships. '- The remit was adopted unaninously, and a. Committee was set up to bring the recommendations of the conference gefore the Governn-ment.