SHIPS FOR FROZEN CARGO

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 6

SHIPS FOR FROZEN CARGO

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. A statement, supplementary to those he has made on previous occasions, relating to tho number of ships likely to bo available to carry refrigerated cargo Homo from New Zealand was made in tho House of Representatives last night by tho Prime Minister. • Mr. Massey said that ho wished to make a statement concernirig the number of ships likely to be "available for the carriage of our produce during the first two or three months of next year. On a previous occasion, he had referred to the possibility or probability of tho Australian Government commandeering for transports three ships regularly in the Now Zealand trade which also called at Australian ports. He had communicated with the Prirao Minister of the Commonwealth asking him to avoid tho commandeering of ships if possible, and he ha dreceived from the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher the following reply;— "Your cablegram September 30. Arrangements will be made to avoid requisitioning either Indralema, Star of Scotland, or Nerehana for •■ transport purposes if at all possible. From present indications it is unlikely they will have to be taken." Mr. Massey said he was sure this reply would give a great deal of satisfaction to the producers of: New Zealand. .He had also communicated with the Imperial Government through His Excellency the Governor, asking that the transports' l carrying the troops Home should be allowed to return to Now Zealand at the earliest possible moment. His Excellency the Governor had received the following reply from the Secretary of State for the Coloniea under date October 7. "With reference to your telegram of Soptember 17 and 29, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty i state that all transport* will bo paid oif as soon as the troops are disembarked, but the question of whether they cau return, with partloading or under ballast is a matter for tho ship-owners, who are being informed' of your Government's Irishes. It'is regretted that it will not be possible to release the • steamship.Muritai so as to be available, and in New Zealand on January 21, but she will be released-im-mediately after arrival ; here.— (Signed) Harcourt." '

Mr. Massey explained that the Muiitai .had been commandeered for the carriago oi' produce to British troops operating abroad. He did not know where, the ship was, but he took it that she would be liberated in a very few weeks. With regard to tho return of tho transports in part cargo or in ballast ho was communicating with tho shipping companies, and he believed satisfactory arrangements could re made. He did not suppose that the dis-' embarking oi' the troops would occupy more than a day of two, so that tho

ships ought not to he delayed in England. He thought the thanks of the country were duo to the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of'the Commonwealth, for his courtesy and willingness to help New Zealand in a matter of the utmost importance to our people.