SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16141, 20 February 1918, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING.

STATEMENT BY PRIME

MINISTER

(TRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, February IS. Tho Prime Minister made the follow* ing statement to-day regarding the supply of shipping:—

"I am sorry to say that the outlook is .not nearly so good as it was six weeks or two months ago. Fortunately in January and up till the present in -this month the supply of shipping has been good, and we have very greatly reduced our stocks of frozen meat and our dairy produce in the different cold stores throughout tho Dominion. I think that even now there will be 110 serious difficulty so far as frozen moat and cheese are concorned. The difficulty. lam afraid will be with regard to wool, flax, tallow, and other commodities which aie very often considered to be of minor importance, but which in the aggregate are of importance to the Dt>minion as a whole.

'T hope the trouble will not laj>t very long, but it is well for the publjo to know that for the next six weoks or two months the supply of shipping especiallv for the articles I havo mentioned, will not bo so good as it has boon since tho commencement of tbo year. I lijive only to say that tie Government will continuo to do everything it possibly can to ease the posj. tion."