The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. TRANSPORTATION OF PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. TRANSPORTATION OF PRODUCE.

The unwarranted rise in shipping freights is pressing so hardly on the producers of the Dominion in general that it is not surprising to find vigorous denunciations being made by members of Chambers of Commerce, Farmers' Unions and others who can voice their grievances, the public, who have been exploited by the shipping companies, having to submit to the extortionate increases in the east of all imported goods with as good grace as they can. It is, ■however, the producers' who feel the pinch of the freight screw, and they are loudly and persistently protesting against the injustice under whicli they are suffering in connection with the building up of huge profits for the shipowners at the expense of the farmers. At the recent meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce a resolution was carried that it wag desirable that the •producers of the Dominion should influence or govern the control of ocean transports on which we are dependent for the carriage of exports and imports. Tt was pointed out by the president (Mr. J. B. Richards) that this country was dependent on overseas' nrarkcts, and that it was essential that exporters should have some control over the distributing agency. He stressed the fact that the roads, railways, harbors and wharves of the 'Dominion were in the .hands of the people's representatives, but that when- it came to shipping our produce 'we were at the complete mercy of the shipowners. At Thursday's meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union an emphatic protest was made against the unwarranted rise in freights on wool, produce, etc., and we serious menace to producers caused by the shipping monopoly was stressed. The resolution went on to say that if the extortionate rates were maintained, the producers must either urge the Government to deal with the matter, or promote a new shipping company, and guarantee to I ship wool and other produce only by such company's steamers. These are only a couple of instances out of many that point to the question of shipping control 'having reached a somewhat acute stage. The only reason put forward for raising the freights so largely is that it" is one of the consequences of the war and the commandeering of vessels for war service. The excuse is one that might he advanced in relation to delays caused' through a shortage of ships, but it certainly haa but a shadow o£ bearing on the question of extortionate freights. The war is showing us many weak links in our national and commercial systems, and one of the most significant lessons it has made clear and we must learn is self-dependence and the destruction of all monopolies. Let any impartial outsider look at this produce tiansport problem in a common-sense light, and the only possible conclusion lie can arrive at is, a country whoso transport trade amounts to a value of between fifty and sixty millions a year cannot bo justified in being at the mercy of dividend-earning shipping companies who can at any time penalise more or less severely those who are so foolis'h to depend on thcin. The solution of the problem may be edged about with difficulties, and there may be differences of opinion as to the most satisfactory means to be adopted, but there should be a consensus of opinion that the present exploitation should be got rid of. The member for Patea (Mr G. V. Fearce) has brought the trouble pointedly to the attention of the Hon! James Allen by means of a telegram in which he refers to the "disgraceful grab by the shipping monopoly of a penny per pound on wool," and urging the Government, to buy or charter sliips to break up the monopoly. A penny per pound does not in the abstract appear a large amount, but on the total export of wool it means a loss of a million sterling to the sheep farmers »f New Zealand, and that sum would, in normal times, go a long way towards purchasing the nucleus of a ileet of ships for the transport of our commerce. The easiest and best method of overcoming the trouble is a Stateowned shipping service, not only for overseas trade but for coastal work in the Dominion. Three or four million 3 spent in this direction would prove one of the best assets of the country, for not only would all the' profits belong to the people, but, what is of greater importance, the control of the service would ensure far 'better results than

could ever be hoped for under present] conditions. The scheme which favors a producers' shipping company, presumably subsidised by the State, is worthy ot attention as an alternative, hut it docs not possess the advantages that would accrue from a. Slate-owned licet. in u time of stress like the present this problem presses itself on the attention of all concerned, and it must be remembered that in the commercial struggle which must follow the present war there will be a greater need than ever for securing the economical and efficient transport of our merchandise, inwards and outwards. Now is the time for putting our shipping arrangements in order and coming to a decision as to tin; most workable plan on which to proceed. The need is admittedly .great, and the country sh-ould insist on a. remedy 'being found..'