PRODUCE EXPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1921, Page 5

PRODUCE EXPORTS

SHIPPING SCHEME. PRODUCERS AS PART OWNERS. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 31. A large and representative gathering of producers and representatives of Dominion dairy companies met in conference to-day. The situation of the primary products of New Zealand with special reference to shipping freights and the question of a shipping contract with the companies for a longer or shorter period was considered. The Hon. W. Nosworthy presided and the Prime Minister attended the conference. Dr. Reakes read the report of the’ Producers’ Committee on the question of freights. Sir Francis Boyes, representing the shipping companies, described the situation as that of a small boy in a corner threatened by a man with a big stick, suggesting that a contract with the companies was the only ’weappp. to meet the menace of the question of a longer or shorter contract. The shipping companies refused to make a contract under one year. Mr. W. D. Lysnar and others strongly opposed entering into a contract. He said it was up to the producers to do as they had done in Gisborne, to get a fleet to carry their own produce. Other speeches described the shipping companies as killing the goos& that laid the golden eggs. Mr. L. A. Rutherford said the outlook was as black as possible.’ He considered the Government had made a mistake in not allowing the freest competition among buyers in, tiro New Zealand markets. It was a mistake to exclude Armours and V'esteV Bros. Mr. Nosworthy warmly justified the Government’s action, and was- supported by Mr. Lysnar, who attributed the whole situation* to the work of trusts. The Prime Minister admitted that the situation was bad, but not so serious for meat. He promised favqrable consideration by the Government regarding assistance to shipping by a jointly controlled line of insulated vessels by the producers' and the Government, on the lines of the Bank of New Zealand. He urged that lower prices must be accepted, and the cost of production and transport reduced. He also promised all possible help to producers on his mission to London. The conference carried a motion, proposed by Mr. James Coddie, that a special vote of thanks be given to Mr. Massey for his services, and expressed the hope that hie mission would result successfully.

Representatives of the freezing companies are conferring separately on the shipping question. A producers’ committee was appointed to meet later.

SCHEME POSTPONED.

, [EIGHTEEN MONTHS CONTRACT. SOME LIGHT 0& THE TRUSTS. Wellington Last Night. At* the conference of representatives of the producing interests, convened by the Board of Agriculture, Mr. Nosworthy presided. 4 Sir James Wilson, in advocating bringing the producers closer together, said the only way to defeat the shipping companies was for the producers to combine.

Sir Francis Boyes, spAking in regard to shipping and shipping freights, said the position of contracts was most unsatisfactory. The freezing companies in general wanted a regular service, and distinct rights under contract, unless the people of England were prepared to pay more for meat than in pre-war days. The shipping companies’ high rates were killing the industry in New Zealand. Mr. W. D. Lysnar did not agree that it was necessary for freezing.companies to ha ver contracts. The shipping people and freezing companies now had an excellent chance of getting out of the clutches of the shipping people, and he urged the freezing companies of New Zealand to buy a few ships, though it was not necessary to dominate the position. Sir Walter Buchanan agreed with Mr. Lysnar, contending that if the producers entered into a contract with the shipping people it would mean bondage and ruin He urged producers to follow Gisborne’s example and stand firm and they would soon find the shipping companies coming with very different terms to those proposed at present. Tn .reply to Mr. John Grigg, the Prime Minuter said he had been informed that a large number of ships idle in England could be bought at £l2 per ton. and the cost of insulating them would be £lOO,OOO. The steamers were 12knot ships. Mr. D. Jones, M.P., qrged that the freezing companies be asked if they were prepared to concede more to farmers than at present. The chairman, replying to the observations of Mr. A. L. Rutherford, said Are mour and Co. had legal advice that they had a right to go on, and they had been operating in this country up to the present with practically a free hand. Trusts -had brought meat down from tenpenee to sixpence a pound, and it was useless to blame the policy of the Government. They had been blocked without an export license, but they had only applied for a license a few weeks ago, and they had their works full of meat when they asked for it.

Mr. Rutherford: “Why not let the.n get it out ” The chairman said 'he was not going to let them get it out. That was the po’> *y of the Government and they were go : ng to sift the matter to the bottom in the interests of the producers. It was decided at this s :age. on the motion of Mr. J. Boddie, that the freezing companies’ representatives should retire. The freezing companies’ committee recommended thiat a one and a half years’ contract be negotiated with the shipping companies upon the most, favorable terms obtainable. The conference adopted this recommendation. It was decided to refer the proposals for the establishment of a Producers’ Mercantile Shipping Board to producers’ committee already appointed at a former conference, which should have full power, with the concurrence of the Minister, to take definite and immediate action in regard to the proposals presented by Mr. C. A. De Latour, the details of ‘which have already been pub-