LOWER FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1922, Page 4

LOWER FREIGHTS.

NEW PRODUCE CONTRACTS. MEAT AND CHEESE REDUCED. BUTTER RATE UNALTERED. BIG SAVING TO PRODUCERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board announces that an agreement has been arrived at with the shipping companies for the carriage of New Zealand refrigerated produce for one year from November 1 at the following rates (the rates ruling during last season being

♦The rate of the old contract was for case* bags being l%d. The comparatively large reduction on pork has been obtained by a special effort to assist and develop this industry amongst dairy farmers. The shipping companies undertake that the rates of freight on apples from New Zealand to London will not exceed the rates ruling at the time from Tasmania to London.

In the House to-night the Prime Minister made a statement regarding the new scale of freight charges arranged by the Meat Producers’ Board with the shipping cqmpanies, particulars of which he had just received. After giving details of the meat contract, Mr. Massey said the freight on butter was to be five shillings per box, the same as last season, and on cheese 1 1-lGd per pound, plus ten per cent., a reduction of one-eighth penny. Grouping beef, mutton and lamb, which were the chief items, the new contract meant a reduction of freight charges amounting approximately to £497.000, and on other meats of £50,000. Tn addition, there would be a saving of £75,000 on cheese, or a total of £622,000. Mr. Massey congratulated the board on the success of its negotiations, and congratulated the producers, who would reap material benefit. Be hoped there would be a corresponding decrease in freezing charges, and if this coirld be obtained the total saving to producers would go far to restore New Zealand to her pre-war condition of prosperity. The board’s work in this connection nad been worth millions to the country.

shown for comparison):— New contract (all per Old contract (all per lb. plus 2H p.c.) Ib. net.) Beef (quarters) .. iHd l%d Beef (boneless) IHd Veal l%d Mutton l%d l%d Lamb l%d Hid Pork Id Offal and frozen sundries %d Mutton, legs and pieces 1 7-16(1