SHIPS DIVERTED FROM AUSTRALIA

Chronicle (Levin), 10 May 1947, Page 5

SHIPS DIVERTED FROM AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, Alav 9. While Britain is try ing desperatelv to buv every ton of meat she can alford, 16 refrigerated ships have alreadj' been diverted from Sydney to New Zealand this year because Australia cannot provide mcat to ffll them. Shipowners say that, despite shipping shortages, they can provide vessels for all the meat Australia can make avaiiable for Britain. The Meat Board has appealed to produeers to provide additional stock for traitsport. Because of drought, industrial troubles, and other factors, Australia is lagging about 10,000' tons beliind the export target of 91,000 tons set for the first half of this year. Afeat export authorities in Sydney discount the statement by the British Food Arinister (Afr. Strachev) that nor mai mpat shipments from Australia were a month behind because of strilces by Australian wharf and shipyard workers. They said that confnsion had probably arisen because the Queensland beef export season, which normally began about April 1, was about a month late this year. This was caused by such factors as drought and tlien floods, which even now were delaying the arrival of heavy cattle in tlie Townsville area. In addition to 13 reported earlier, three refrigerated cargo vessels will be diverted to New Zealand this month. The chairman of the Overseas Shipping Representatives' Association (Afi'. W. T. Oraig) said that the lag of a month in shipments was directlv traeeable to the watersiders' strike which lasted a fortnight and wliich has since • caused eongestion at tho wharves.