Freights on Dairy Produce.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 695, 15 December 1902, Page 2

Freights on Dairy Produce.

There has been a much-discussed eorreapondence in Wellington of late anent the freights on butter from New Zealand to London, Interviewed by a Post reporter, llr Francis fShaw, acting secretary ‘of the [ National Dairy Association, gives some interesting facts concering this subject. Mr Shaw stated that in May last the Association entered into an agreement with the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company for five years as from Ist October, 1902, in which the companies contracted to despatch a boat fornightly for the carriage of dairy produce. During tho season previously freight on butter was u-8d per lb on the gross weight, with 10 per cent, primage and a rebate of ii per cent if paid in the colony, and 3 per cent if paid in London. Under the new agreement the rate of freight is ! jd per lb in boxes and 3-16 per lb in kc-gs, net weight, without primage if freight is paid in the colony, and plus 2 per cent, primage if paid in London. The shipping companies also pay coastal freight from tho grading ports to Wellington up to 10s per ton wc-igS \ the balance (if any) being paid by V,,0 shippers. The shipping companies will also make the Association an allowance of per cent, on the net freight on butter and cheese for the first three years, and 5 per cent, for the last two years. The first allowance is to be paid in October, 1903. The Association will ‘ refund this allowance to the shippers. Further, the Association has a first claim I on the space provided for the carriage of butter in the fortnightly steamers, “and [ Wellington is to be the final port of call unless for exceptional reasons, when Lyttelton will bo substituted. A representative of Dalgety and Co., who was over here recently, declared that the rates obtained by this Association were better than those ruling in Melbourne. It having been stated that if the Tongariro was fully loaded with butter she would earn in one voyage more than ono-half her value as a cargo-carrying steamer, Mr Shaw replied that that might be so, but if dairy producers of the colony could fill such a ship every fortnight there was not the slightest doubt that very touch better terms coul3 be arranged,