Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1895. CHEAP FREIGHT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5028, 17 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1895. CHEAP FREIGHT.

It was recently announced that Mr Reynolds, who is so well-known in connection with the dairy industry, had made overtures to the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and the iSew Zealand Shipping Company, with a view of obtaining a reduction of the freight charges on New Zealand dairy produce. Mr Reynolds bad the assistance of the peripatetic Colonial Treasurer, but their joint cll'orts have proved abortive; the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company says it is impossible to ralnee (he freight, 01-lo put it in another form, the charges are as low as it is possible for the Company to make them. Mr Reynolds could have expected no other reply, for if is the stereotyped answergivoH to such inquiries. Individual effort will not break through the exihting condition of things, something more is wanted, anil will be found in united action. A reduction in freight just now means a margin of profit, and unless this margin is obtained there is disaster awaiting the dairy produce trade, Indeed, it is a matter of opinion whether the dairy industry is not now passing through a crisis, if the discontent of shareholders and milk suppliers indicates anything, it is that the industry is far from being in a healthy condition.

High freights, insufficiency of capital, and inadequate appliances are not exactly the 'best foundations upon which agreatindustry'is tobe built. Yet f,lie.se elements are tqo painfully prominent, and the industry consequence languishes. It is'within the power'of the shaveholders and mjl'k snppiiers t« furnish Hie capital required to thoroughly equip the factories in plant. The inordinate use of bank-overdraft for this purpose may ho permissible as a temporary measure, but with us it has become chronic, and the heavy percentage fqrlqari ii)Qney(lemaiHiel| by fclio Banks, just about oats tlio vitals out of a factory. Add |q this extreme transit charges, and we have the, present results of a languishing industry. Freights cannot be red ced, so the Shipping

Companies assert, but if the dairy farmers accept this as final, they will bo very foolish. Shipping rings can bo overcome in many ivays, but before anything practicable can be done, there mast be some sort of unity. The people of Victoria have managed to arrange better terms with the Blue Anchor and Aberdeen Shipping Companies, than they were able to obtain from the P. and 0. and Orient Companies, and what Victoria has accomplished, it is possible for New Zealand to do. We feel convinced of this, that if some energetic steps are not taken by those interested, the dairy industry will flicker and and die a natural death, for the terms on which wo arc competing with the other colonies leaves no hope for anything better. In Victoria milk is down to Al per gallon, there is a bonus paid on "butter exported, the dairy produce is graded by Government ollicials and goes into the market with the hall mark of pmity, freights are lower, and shipments leave the colony at regular intervals, cold storage is provided by the Government, ai:d railway charges are on a generous scale. These are a few of the advantages which the Victorian dairy farmer enjoys. New Zealand to compote against this, must put herself into the same favourable position, but this is a task which neither the farmers nor the Government seem disposed to undertake.