CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

000 l storage: TO THE EDITOR OF "THE rRESS." Sir,—Woolston people have a habit of breaking out in queer ways # now and then, and the latest sentiment from a resident of that suburb is probably what can only be expected. Mr J. J. Graham, Woolston's representative on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, at its meeting yesterday said: "The storing of produce in cool stores meant that prices were increased to New Zealand consumers." The plain English of that is—as there is a shortage of shipping let the exportable surplus rot so long as Mr Graham and those who think with him get their share a little cheaper. What d.o the Americans say on this point ? In a recent issue an American paper has the following: "There is a growing conviction that cold storage must dc brought into more general use at and near the point of production, on farms and at shipping stations. It is estimated that not far from 160,000,000 dollars' worth of farm products goes into cold storage annually in the.great distributive markets, and the amount is steadily increasing. , Jt would seem as though this were of enough importance to engage tho _ full attention cf thinking men The'amount of stoploss value in these figures no doubt would make a staggering total. If all the produce involved in these totals had been forced into consumption in the season of its production it would have -resulted in a general destruction of values. This is very much the business of the producers. Storage houses are far too few and the facilities as vet inadequate to conserve all of our foods that go to waste. Farmers and • producers must > join ■ hands with the.refrigerating men.to preserve and save food." The Americans know perfectly well, if Mr Graham does not, that detraction of the prices of primary products means less production, and someone must suffer. New Zealand cannot consume all the dairy-pro-duce manufactured, but there are people at Homo waiting for the surplus, and if it is not stored until shipping is available, then it must decay. But, says Mr Graham. "What matter to long as we get our share cheaper."— Yours, etc., COMMPN-SENSE. Christchurch, July 4tE.