THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911. FREIGHT ON LAMBS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 1034, 15 August 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911. FREIGHT ON LAMBS.

Referring to the increase of 1-1 Qd per lb on the freight on frozen lamb, which is to take effect in Australia, from September Ist, a Sydney writer says it is impossible to see any justinoation for the increase. It is understood that the principal reasons •which have actuated the owners in increasing the freight rate are (1) the extra cost of convenience, in the shape of higher wages of seamen and others, and (2) that Jambs occupy more space per ton than mutton. The fact is, says the Avriter in question, that far too much is> made of the increase in wages, which amounts to very little, and it is an utter fallacy to say 'that lambs do not stow as well as mutton, the ex- • periehce. of. exporters over a number of years proving that one istowts just as well asi the other. Undoubtedly the shipping companies have made big profits in reeept years, seeing that hot only has volume of meat exports from Australia beeni much ibigger, ibut it has been maintained, imore or lesis, all the yeaa* round, instead of .being a spasmodic effort, as was formerly the case. As the exporters are in competition virtually with the world, it is impossible for them l by any artificial means to recoup themselves. They are compelled to pass on the extra charge to the producer. Last season's- freights were raised &d, on both frozen, sheep and lambs, so that growers of the latter hiave now to pay Gd per carcase more for freight than they paid 12 months ago. The exporters both in New South Wales: and Victoria take the view that they cannot, unaided, hope to oppose the shipowners successfully. Hitherto they have not sought Government aid in their negotiations with the -shipping companies, but the l point has 'been raised whether, seeing that the increased freight rate directly concernsi the producer, the Government should not now be asked to take action. The rate of freight on meat from the country which most directly competes with Australia—viz., Argentina.—is very much lower than the Australian, being under fd per lb. The actual leeway which Australia has to make up would amount to £300,000 * year.