H.—3o.

Meat, Frozen (Mutton and Lamb).

Rates include haulage, loading, and unloading. Note. —As in tlie case of beef and veal, the concession in rate granted as from August, 1925, coincided with an increase of 7-| per cent, in the rates for live-stock as agreed upon between the Department and the meat interests. The explanation given for the closer relation to pre-war rates of the present rates for meat than is the case with butter and cheese is that, although there have been reductions in the case of beef and veal, and comparatively small increases in the rates for mutton and lamb, yet the basic pre-war rates for meat were considerably higher than the basic pre-war rates for butter and cheese which, as stated, had been reduced for the purpose of assisting the dairy industry in its developmental stage. 261. Recommendation for Rationalization of Internal Transport of Dairy-produce : The Commission was given an indication that if the Dairy Produce Control Board, on behalf of the industry, submitted a proposal to the Railway Department, whereby carriage of dairy-produce from factory to cool store could be rationalized on the lines of concentration on rail transport, except where special circumstances made transport by road or sea definitely more economical, such a proposal would be welcomed, and would be carefully considered with a view to revising the system under which the rates are fixed, instituting a zoning system, and effecting a reduction in transport charges to the industry as a whole. Accordingly, the Commission has recommended that the Dairy-produce Control Board be given power to make contracts with the Railway Department and other transport authorities for the transport within New Zealand of butter, cheese, and other dairy-produce. The Commission considers, further, that the question of transport of cream to factories might very well be brought under the jurisdiction of the Transport Department. 262. Transport from f.o.b. Ocean Steamer to United Kingdom Ports : The Dairy-produce Control Board has endeavoured to regulate the shipments of butter and cheese from New Zealand ports so that, as far as possible, market gluts due to very heavy arrivals at any one time may be avoided. Having regard to the difficulties which arise from the multiplicity of harbours, and from the rapidly increasing quantities of dairy-produce which have had to be shipped, it can be said that the Dairy Board has handled the situation very well. There are ten ports in the Dominion at which ocean steamers regularly load dairy-produce. Local authorities have made it their ambition to provide facilities for ocean-going steamers wherever possible, and the shipping service has had to be arranged to suit the requirements of these loading ports. The ideal situation, which is now impossible of attainment, would have been a planning of shipping facilities, and an establishment of harbours, to give the maximum measure of efficient transport service and regular and speedy delivery of produce to the overseas markets. Such an ideal system would have meant a concentration on main ports for overseas shipments, and a system of coastal shipment of produce from minor ports to the main ports. 263. Importance of Shipments from Main Ports : The Commission believes that there is room for improvement in the shipping service by concentration on regular sailings from the main ports, to ensure the even spread of the quantities delivered to the various United Kingdom ports. A market is now required for approximately 250,000 tons of dairy-produce, and the magnitude of the task demands that the question of transport and delivery be handled on a Dominion basis for the good of the industry as a whole. Advertising and salesmanship are responsible for the establishment of the Dominion's dairy-produce throughout the United Kingdom, and the new outlets require regular supplies if they are to be preserved. The direct shipments of dairy-produce to ports in the United Kingdom other than London have increased, during the past ten years, from 5 per cent, to almost 25 per cent. It is well known that spasmodic supply to any market creates uncertainty and disturbance, and that retailers and consumers lose interest in an article which is not continuously available. Marketing is hindered by both gluts and shortages, and the aim of the industry must be to provide regular supply and to overcome as far as is possible the many difficulties presented by our distance from the market, our uneven seasonal production, our numerous shipping ports, and oui' numerous ports of arrival.

107

_ , , j. Miles Miles Miles i Miles Miles Miles Miles Rates per ton-mile for ! 25 _ 50 _ 76# I 100 . 150 . 2 00. 300. I I d. d. d. d. d. d. d. Prior to September, 1915 .. .. 5-2 4-2 3-7 3-1 2-6 2*2 1*8 From September, 1915 .. .. 5-7 4-6 4-1 3-5 2-9 2'4 2-0 From November, 1917 .. .. 6-3 5-1 4-5 3-8 3-2 2-9 2-2 From August, 1920 .. .. .. 8-5 7-7 6-6 5-6 4-5 3-7 2-9 From November, 1922 .. .. 6-7 6-0 5-2 4-4 3-5 2-9 2-3 From August, 1925 .. .. .. 6-8 6-2 5-3 4-5 3-6 2-9 2-3 From February, 1933 .. .. .. 5-8 5-2 4-5 3-8 3-0 2-5 2-0 From April, 1934 .. .. .. 6-8 6-2 5-3 4-5 3-6 2-9 2-3