PRODUCERS’ PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1921, Page 8

PRODUCERS’ PROBLEMS.

; SAVING ON FREIGHT CONTRACT. |

REALISATION OF WOOL (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 22. An important meeting of the standing Producers’ Committee was held in Wellington on Thursday. This committee, which was strengthened at the producers’ conference on March 31, is representing the . farmers of New Zealand in the negotiations regax ng wool realisation, freights and- other matters. The committee had before it a final draff of the freight contract proposed to be made between the shipping companies and the freezing companies. The producers’ conference approved of this contract being signed for this season and next season at a rate that would represent a saving of about £135,000 a year, as against the present rates. Since then a further reduction has been secured that will mean a saving of about £250,000 to the producers. The standing committee approved of the contract, and the freezing companies are being notified accordingly. Some interim information regarding the wool realisation schemfe was placed before the committee. Mr. Mabin, who is representing the producers in the negotiations with the British-Australian Wool Realisation Association, is still in Melbourne, and his discussions with the representatives of the association had not yet reached a stage that would enable him to make any definite report. The committee decided to meet again as soon as Mr. Mabin’s report became available.

The committee discussed further the recommendation of the producers’ conference that all wool sales, public and private, should be prohibited for a period of two months, pending the completion of negotiations with the B.A.W.R.A. It had been expected that this suspension could be arranged by agreement among those interested, without compulsion becoming necessary, but the committee had reason to believe that in some cases an intention to sell in spite of the conference’s recommendation had been made evident. The committee, after discussion, decided that the resolution of the conference should be adhered to.

The committee discussed very fully the proposed mercantile shipping board, based on the detailed proposals submitted to and approved by the producers’ conference on March 31. Certain conclusions were reached, and these conclusions are to be placed in the hands of a sub-committee in order that .necessary details may be examined and elaborated. The sub committee will report to the full committee at its next meeting. Another point considered by the committee was the serious delay experienced by overseas steamers in discharging and loading at the main and coastal ports of the Dominion. Some interesting information was placed before the committee. Jt was shown that from September 1, 1912, to January 31. 191 i, the time occupied in working thirty-nine steamers on the New Zealand coast was 1406 days, equivalent to an average of 36.07 days per steamer. From September 1. 1920, to January 31. 1921, the time occupied in working thirty-six steamers was 1719 days, or an a'verage of 47.75 days per steamer. This ; was an increase of 11.68 days per steadier, or 32 per cent., and represented a charge of about £5600 per steamer. The committee decided to make recommendations on this subject. During the day the members of the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union, which was meeting at the same time, met the standing committee, and engaged in a general discussion for upwards of an hour. A very cordial feeling of co-operation was shown in the discussion of the highly important matters that the committee has in hand.