NEW PLYMOUTH SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 86, 7 April 1903, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH SHIPPING FACILITIES.

VISIT OT MR. KKNNRDY. Ok Monday morning, as reported had been arranged in a previous issu*, Mr J. 6. Harkness, chairman of the North Island Dairy Association, and Mr J. B. Connett, chaiiman of the Taranaki Freezing Works, had an interview with J Mr Kennedy, the Wellington manager of fie Union Steamship Company, regarding the fi.ting up of a refrigerator in the steamers carrying butter to Wellington. The interview lasted some time, the discussion baing of a conversational character. Mr Kennedy pointed out that the question was ■imply a matter of money and as regards its necessity he produced a letter from Auckland dairy produce shippers stating that thay were satisfied with the existing arrangement by which their butter was pent by the Ro'oiti.

Messrs Harkness and Oonnett considered the refrigerator an absolute necessity, bat did not wish to dictate as to the boat to be fitted up and would accept the TJpolu. Finally Mr Kennedy suggested the matter might be arranged by the payBent of a subsidy on the basis of Is per ton, which taking the quantity at 8000 tons would be £l5O. He pointed out that the 10s coastal freight really meant barely 9s, which was a very low rate.

Mr Oonnett thought the matter might be arranged if the Dairy Association would pay a portion of the subsidy, but Mr Harkness considered the Freezing Company should pay it and deduct it from the bonus which made it indirectly a charge on the producer.

The matter was left at this stage, and will, it is understood, be discussed at a meeting of the directors of the Freezing Workt. on Wednesday,

DIBKOr TRADE WITH STDNBT.

We understand that Mr Bewley, Chairman of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, bad an interview with Mr Kennedy on the question of direct trade with Sydney; but we are unable to learn, op to the time of going to press, what transpired. We understand that Mr Kennedy stated that the matter was in the hands of Mr Morgan, the local minager, who was in communication with the Directors of the Compioy, who had the dealing with it, and he had no doubt but that they would give the matter most careful and full consideration before coming to any decision.