HOMEWARD SHIPS FOR FROZEN CARGO

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 6

HOMEWARD SHIPS FOR FROZEN CARGO

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSBY,

In the House of Representatives last niglit, the Prime Minister made a further' statement regarding the supply of ships for the carnage of produce from New Zealand. f On a previous occasion, said Mr. Massey, no had informed the Houso that eleven ships had been required last year to carry our produce Home during that part of the export season ' prior, to December 31, and that the same number would be available this_ year. Now ho was glad to he able to inform ijie House that there would be thirteen ahips available in those months _, this year, leaving a. margin of tiro ships a* compared with last year. There had taen some anxifiiy, particularly in Tarnnaki, »nd psrt of the Auckland district, about possibility of difficulty in Retting cheoee away. Ho had been Supplied with a repnrt en the subject, and this report est'mated that, allowing for a reasonable production of cheese, or for an increase of 40 per uent. over that for last year, 194,000 crates would be ready for export from October to December. Ho was now. assured that provision would be made fo 228,800 crates. Ho was quite sure that statement would be received with satisfaction in dairying districts of the Dominion. For tho months of January and February of next year there wen , 14 ships now in sight.' He did not s.r that this number would be sufficient for our purposes, but he had no doubt tha : the Government might be aWe t' remedy any deficiency that might occur. He was sorry to say that, there ,wa.s a possibility of the _ Australian Governinent commandeering for trooping purposes three of tho ships coming to New Zealand. Tho three ships were the. Star of Scotland, tho Indralema, and the Nerehana. Ho had, however,.cabled to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth and asked Mr. Andrew Fisher to avoid if poeeiblo the taking of these ships, which were so necessary to New Zsaland. To this message -he (Mr. Massey) had not yet received a reply, but ho thought that tho reply_ when it osmb to hand would be satisfactory. Personally he was of opinion that their would be no difficulty about tho carriage of pur produce, and if our transports were sent away in the near future they would be back in -tfmo for the busy part of the season. •. . ■ , '