The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 12. 1905. FREIGHTS ON DAIRY PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7846, 12 June 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 12. 1905. FREIGHTS ON DAIRY PRODUCE.

I For some months past the National Dairy Association has been negotiating with lha two principal shippingl ■ companies—the New Zealand and tho SKaw. Savill. and Albion—with the object of securing a reduction in freight char'gh? for tihe carriage of butter and cheese to the Home markets. It is gratifying to know that the efforts have been crowned with' success, inasmuch as every fraction of a penny saved in shipping charges will make a considerable difference to thosj who arc engaged in dairying, ' To those who have not studied- the financial aspect of this gucstion it i might appear that the charges undor ' the present contract with the shipping, companies—three farth'ings per pound on butter and nine-sixteenths of a penny on cheese is not an excessive charge considering the distance to be traversed, and the expenses incidental to the freezing , chambers on the steamers, b(ut the volume of trade has grown so enormously that the quantity of dairy produce now shipped represents at the present charges between one and two hundred thousand pounds a year —a by no means insignificant sum. That there was ample room for a re- • duction was patent to all those interested in the industry, as welt as to the Premier, who was in complete sympathy with the movement for obtaining cheaper freights, and whoSpledged the Government to doi all in its. power in this dUcctlon, although he strongly advised the South Island shippers not to sign ' any contract, as it was- highly possible that very shortly arrangements < would bo completed for a steam service with the. western ports of Britain. This may or may not eventuate, and in either event the Northern ■ shippers l wll motl bo prejudiced by the contract which has now been entered into fcy the National Dairy Association. This contract has a ctir- - rency of five years, and during that time many events may happen to affect the industry, but none, we trust, of a prejudicial nature. In declining to enter into a seven years' ' agreement, the Association decided rightly, and though' the shipping *" companies for some time stood out *" for that term, they wisely gave way at last. We have on other occasions . pointed out in connection with this ; » question of dairy produce what large sums are represented by a fractional variation in price, and this will - readily be seen in the result of the ■ concessions now granteii. Under the late contract the freight for butter was three-fa things a pound, that for cheese being nine-sixteenths of a penny. For tho new contract the charge is fixed fos tho first two years at five-eighths of a penny per pound for butter in boxes, and eleven-sixteenths of a penny for butter, in kegs, while * for the remaining three yiea*s the freight is to be nine-sixteenths anjft five-oighths respectively, the charge _ for cheese being one halfpenny for tho whole term, a slight addition Being made if tha freight is Rot paid within 1 the colony. It will be seen, therefore, that fo? Jtfjf flyst twp' there will be a. saving of ono-eighlh of a penny per pound on the freight for butter, and for the last three years a saving of three-sixteenths, the reduction on cheese being onesixteenth of a penny per pound for the whole term calculated on the nett weight instead of on tho grossequivalent to an eighth' of a penny. To the unitiatod this may not appear as a handsome concession, but quantity tells, as may be gleaned from tho laet that the monetary value of these concessions to the producers is estimated at £25,000 for the first two years and- '£35,000' for the remainder of the term.- As the contract lately In force 'did not expire for- another two years tho (Association has by- arranging lor its

cancellation effected a. saving of £30,000 in freight charts, and to that extent the fjroducers will benefit. Wo heartily congratulate the officials of the Association on the result of their efforts. Every fraction, that is gained will be heartily wel-. coined by those hard working settlers who are engaged l in the industry. If to this step is added a concentrated effort to distribute the produce on a well-organised , system, there will be a good time ahead for our dairy farmers. Meanwhile every little gained is a help, and a stimu.lus to further efforts towards increasing the prosperity of the colony.

ON THE'FOURTH PAGE. The Storyteller. The Whirlwind of Heath. An Old-time Church, Two 'Melba Stories. General.