SHIPPING FOR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1920, Page 8

SHIPPING FOR PRODUCE.

DAIRY FARMERS' PROPOSAL, ENGLISH PAPER'S COMMENT. London, July 15. The .announcement that the dairy farmers of New Zealand have petitioned the Government for financial assistance to establish a new line of steamers to Great Britain is commented on by Fairplay. ''This announcement," says the journal, "gives point to tile prognostication of. Mr. H. ..I Turner, that New Zealand would not be long in following the example of Canada and Australia with State services. It is true that State financial assistance does not necessarily mean State management, but it is bound to involve some sort of control. As the Prime Minister stated that Government guarantees would.be given in the direction indicated if required by shippers of New Zealand produce, further developments are awaited here with interest- Meanwhile, the announcement must be read in conjunction with the decision arrived at by the Conference of National Dairy Producers of New Zealajul to market their produce in future through the British Wholesale Co-operative Society." Referring to the decision to deal exclusively with the British Wholesale Co-operative Society, the journal says:— '"Our antipodean kinsmen are nothing ;f not logical. They argue: 'lf we are to eliminate the middleman, why not cut out the steamship owner and appropriate his alleged bloated profits?' My sympathy goes out to the brokers at both ends of the chain who 'have- been ousted from their position after many years of successful effort, to market New Zealand produce. Whether it will be necessary to condole with the existing liners who lia •e rendered such conspicuous service to the Dominions remains to be seen. Possibly the movers in the new shipping scheme have not fully reckoned with the enormously increasing costs, not only of ships, but of fuel and running expenses. It may be noted, however, that one of the meat companies lias braved such obstacles and is now loading the Admiral Codrington, of 10,800 tons deadweight, purchased some time ago in this country and fitted up for refrigerated cargo. One swallow does not make a drink, but this sort of | thing is catching."