Bisdwdii, broughft &twssj4 the question «f freights and insurance of frozen dairy and other farm parodac*. He adVo cated that the shipping; companies should make a uniform rate throughout the year. As it was, tlte farmers kept their sheep back for the winter rate* asnd the companies were having difficulty in finding spaoe. iur Thos. Mackenzie espJained the pre sent unsatisfactory and unsafe method of assessing damages on frozen meat, and com plained that the insurance companies- at the other end, did not do tibsir duly. He gave an illustration, of the way in which assess ments fof damage and quality wvtq made, and explained now he had exposed a case of alleged damage. He had endeavoured through the insurance companies to effect reforms, but had failed, as he foond thai the insurance companie* were, practically against reforms. He moved —"That this Con ference considers the question of the insur ance of frozen meat is on saeh an unsatis factory basis, especially in England, that it recommends the Groveemneat that. a. Produce Act be passed for the purpose of insuring aill produce exported from this colon v."

Mr" John Eoberts said thafc before they asked the Goveamment to take uj> the insurance of froze© meat, they atust "show that the present rates were excessive, and he did not think they were. He instauced one frozen meat company that took 25 per cent, of the insurance xiak, and il all the compa&ies did that there w«uld be no cony plaints of imperfectly frozen ioeat; r aad he was satisfied that there were just grounds for these complaints. Begardaag freights, it would probably be a surprise to members of the Conference to learn that it -would pay the shipping companies better to- carry wheat at 30a per toa than, frozen meat at halfpenny per lb in ■Aβ winter time, and they knew that no sailing sliips could now be chartered at 50s per ton. Perhaps when.they had much larger bottoms they could carry meat at a cheaper rate. Dairy produce was gene rally paying a more- handsome freight than frozen meai. Mr W. B. Council urged that theje should be a reduction in the freight on dairy pro duce, though they were at present under a three years' contract, of -which one year had cone. Mr J. G. 