SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 30 October 1914, Page 7

SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

I'AUUAIIENTAI! V COMMITTEE'S REi'URT. BOARD OF TRADE SUGGESTED. >;o shortage of siurs till JANUARY. Wellington, October 23.

The Shipping Freights and Charges Committee present-si ill report as follows to the House of Representatives this afternoon:—•

With regard to the increase in freights the cominiii.ee ascertained that this does not apply Id either frozen meat or dairy produce, but only to wool, llax. and other refrigerated cargo. The committee is strongly of opinion that as conditions become normal the increase should be abolished.

Evidence given before the committee showed that outside refrigerated steamers cannot be chartered; that shipping available can be made to meet all proliable demands for space for meat, butter and cheese during the months of October, November, December and January. It may be assumed that the insulated steamers stated by the Bhipping companies to be available down to January 31, 1'915, will bo employed to their full carrying capacity as refrigerated ships, and that the refrigerated space will be utilised solely for meat and dairy produce. It may be desirable for the Government to bring down legislation to enable them to make nccessaiy arrangements with the owners and pay compensation for the delay of ships. It may be reasonably expected that by the time t'le refrigerated ships delayed will have got away, the commandeered ships will have returned, and will be able to take up their ordinary running. To ensure this, the Government should arrange with the Admiralty and the owners for a return of the ships to Mew Zealand with all possible speed. The. chief ditliculty which presents itself to the committee relates to the export of cheese. Trade in this product is growing so rapidly that the shipping companies will require, in making arrangements for the j future, to bear in mnul the very great I importance of this branch of our ex- I ports. For the coming season we recognise the dilliculties of the position, and consider they can only be met by special consideration on the part of shipping companies in so anticipating and arranging for cheese space as to secure certainty of shipment. Suggestions were put before the committee that the National Dairy Association could monopolise all space and exclude other shippers who are not members of the Association. The committee finds that the Association have by a letter to the committee expressed a willingness to share space, and to allow other shippers a proportion of the allotted space for dairy products. Our enquiries on the matter referred to us lead us to re- j commend that a permanent board should j be established, having clearly defined' powers of enquiry regarding the trade, industries and commerce of the country. Sir Walter Buchanan brought down the report. In reply to Mr. Ngata, Sir Walter Buchanan said it was not proposed to print the evidence, as it had been to some extent given confidentially. Mr. Xgata said there were persistent rumors as to the existence of a meat'. trust and shipping ring in the Domin- I ion. How was the public to form an ! opinion as to the correctness or otherwise of these rumors if the evidence were not published?

Mr. Wilkinson said tile existence of combines was to a great extent disproved before the committee. He advocated the appointment of what would ■be equivalent to a Hoard of Trade.

Mr. Russell said the on'v remedy the committee could see for the ihortage in ships was to insist thai 110 ship lie allowed to leave New Zealand during [•'■• ruarv and March with ordinary earg-i in refrigerating space.

Mr. Pearee coutended ili.it if thr - ings were properly arranged there should be no block in getting our stull' aivm. Sir Joseph Ward did not agree wKli tin: proposal to print tile evidence. The committee was not enquiring into snipping rings and meat trusts, and there was no reference in the evidence to monopolies of the kind. Much information of a confidential nature was given to the committee which could not be published to the world, He was against anything in the shape of monopoly. He wanted to see free and active competition among-st buyera and producers, and so long as we owned the railway, and the farmers controlled the bulk of the freezing works, no meat trust could flourish in this Dominion. lie favored the appointment of a Board of Trade.

The Premier said thai und. r the circumstances it would Si.- a. bruieh .>i faith to publish the evidence. lie saw no reason why there should lie a shortage of bottoms to take our produce to the Home markets, and lie heartily a i proved of the. suggestion thai a. board be appointed.

After Sir Walter Buchanan had replied the report was adopted.