SHIPPING.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 287, 4 August 1888, Page 3

SHIPPING.

Thju isolated position of this country make the subject of shipping of primary importance to the community. A moderately speedy and cheap means of transit between England, Australia, America, etc. t and here, it- not primary only, bbt absolutely essential to our well, being. Ab we do not possess a monopoly of any outside market, but have to compete in meat, wheat, and dairy produce against America, Europe, and India, in wool against Australia, South America, etc., it behoves us as a community to see that there are no unnecessary impediments thrown in the way of a ready outlet for our abundant natural products, especially those of agriculture, which form about 75 per cent, of our exports. Intelligent people on viewing the splendid steamers which trade between this country and England, must often ask themselves the question, whether they were built in the interests of shareholders, or producers and consumers of both countries ; on looking at balance &heets and knowingthe heavy freights charged both ways, one is compelled to confess that the interests of no one is served unless it be the well paid officials. The building ot such large, speedy and cosily steamers must have had other aims in view than the mere carrying of pas&engers and cargo ; I mean mails. The direct mail, owing to the greater distance, can never compete economically with the 'Frisco mail, besides the rapidity of despatch between Liverpool and San Francisco gives it an immense advantage. It is highly improbable that the carrying of the exports and imports of a population of 600,000 people requires a fleet of ten palatial i steameip costing £120,000 each or more, »nd innumerable sailing vessels, besides the steamers trading to Australia and America and those of the new or Colonial Union line. A fleet ot steamers costing £60,000 each, consuming less than half the coal used by the present prodigals, running at a less speed, or about ten knots an hour, and worked at a much less cose in wages, repairs, and general maintenance, woulrl secure to the shareholders a good profit with considerably decreased freights; hence working in the interests of all parties on purely a business basis. We have only to go back to the middle and latter end of 1886 to investigate the commotion caused in Australian and New Zealand shipping circles, by the threatened competition of Messrs Tyser and Co., and there find that the latter firm was prepared to carry measurement goods at 25 per cent, to 37 per cent , and heavy goods such as machinery, etc., at 50 per cent, less than the freights charged by the old companies. »So far back as three years ago I wasinformed on good authority that fiozen mutton could be carried at a Id per lb net, and then secure a fair profit to the shipowner, and yet at this period the above desirable freight has not been reached by any of our existing companies, their charge for mutton being l^d per lb with 10 per cent, primage added, equal to 33 per cent, on price realised in London. Another 35 pei cent, can be added for freezing, bagging, insurance, commissions, brokerage, wharfage, storage, and other charges, or 08 per cent, as total charges on shipping and selling frozen mutton, and its selling price being 3W to 4d per lb, how can it pay to send it to England ? I see by information contained in the Nen' Zealand Herald of July 6th inst., that the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company is coming to the rescue by undertaking to ship it at a freight of one penny per lb on a guarantee of so much stock, and this over the next and following years ; hence this is conclusive proof that mutton can be carried at 20 per cent, less than the charge made by our companies. There can be no manner of doubt but that the freight on wheat, amounting to Is per bushel and 10 per cent, primage, or about 27 per cent, on price, on chee.se id per lb and 10 per cent, pi image in cool chamber=to 16 per cent, on price, on butter one penny and 10 per cent, primage in cool chamber = to 13 per cent, on price — the above percentages are calculated on prices in London — can be considerably and very advantageously reduced, to the great good of this country. In addition to the above we have marine insurance with its crushing rates ot from 5 to 12 guineas per cent, per annum, our exporting agents charge 2 per cent, and 2h per cent, commission, a very handsome and unjust remuneration considering they run no rish whatever, besides breakage, wharfage, storage and other rates in London, all of which are high. There can be no wonder at the deplorable position of our agricultural population, hence of the country, considering how it is hampered on every hand, whethex the piopuce is sold here or exported. London, wheic the bulk of our produce goes we enter a market in competition wi h allcountiios, and being situated the furthest away of any, we are on this scoie at a tremendous disadvantage which I do not think is by any mean* compensated for by the excellence of our climate. How necessary is it therefore that our difleient companies should aid our producers in placing our productions on the maiketonan equal footing with out competitors by charging reasonable and fair races, instead of which, every impediment is placed in the way of the one industry which can permanently benefit this country, but only if it i& conducted profitably. To enter foreign markets so as to secure a sal 0 of our produce we must be placed in -uch a position a.s to command a share of trade, not by quality of goods alone, but by cheapness of production, including all charges necessary to place it where it can beconsumed, otherwise the trade is stopped, for farmers cannot continually be sending their produce at a sacrifice and so consume their capital and labour on the altar of our avaricious and unprofitable companies, — unprofitable through excess of capital mostly borrowed — and bad management. Our country , under its terrible load of national, local and individual debt, requires every facility whereby it may be enabled to secure a profitable sale of its products, there- 1 by enabling us to pay interest and principal ' of money borrowed. It is just and honourable that we should do &o, or suffer from the infamous disgrace of repudiation. SL'KRO MKLIORA. i July 12th, 1888.

The hop gardens in England aro infected with veimin, and it is feared they will also become infecbed with blight. The average depth oi the sand in the deserts of Africa is supposed to be about forty feet. (JARLK'K & CRANWELL are selling Furniture and Carpets very cheap. lion tted .-.leads and Spring Mattresses at greatly reduced p. ices. Bedding of all kinds ready for ddhcry. Oil Cloths from Is. square yard. Linoleum from 2s 3d. Blankets, sheets, quilts, curtrtinb, and ull furnishing poodfc splendid value. Wire Wove Mat 'reuses much cheaper than they used to be. A strong iron Bedstead and Wire Wove Ma tress for ,">ss cash. Simple Iron Bed -tead and Wiie Wove Mattress for 38s cash price. Our gods are curefully packed, eve y attention paid to prevent damage by transit. Buy all your household goods fiom UAItLICK and CRANWELL, Cabir~«v makers,' Queen V,reeL Auckland'