REFRIGERATED SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 7

REFRIGERATED SHIPS

AN ERRONEOUS CABLEGRAM CORRECTED. The following Press Association cablegram from London, which, was published in The Dominion on November 7, created at 'the time a. good deal of surprise locally, and the Government at once instituted inquiries on the subject through the. High Commissioner in London :— "The Admiralty is commardeering increasing numbers of refrigerated vessels for war purposes. Inquiries elicit the fact tliat. shipowners do not object to the Government taking refrigerated vessels,' as others, they say, serve equally well, as New Zealand firms and some Australian firms refuse to pay theextra freight. ." •' ' "The Admiralty recognises that the increased cost of coal, insurance, war risks, aud other factors justify the extra freight rates. Britisii merchants have also agreed to pay higher outward freights." s The High. Commissioner haß now replied as follows: — "With reference to jour telegram of November 7, I have approached the Admiralty and the steamship companies' with regard to the. statement of a London Press cable that the Admiralty had commandeered refrigerated vessels without the shipowners seriously objecting. This is not the case, The Admiralty 6tate that they fully appreciate the importance of the frozen meat trade. Such vessels are not now requisitioned, and those engaged will bo released as: soon as practicable. The New Zealand "Shipping Company state that they made 6trong and successful representations to the Admiralty against requisitions for meat steamers, notwithstanding that the charter would hi more remunerative. The Shaw, Savill, and _ Albion Company stato that no intimation has been received that the Admiralty desires to commandeer more of their steamers, but it adds that carrying for New Zealand, under present conditions, yields a materially poorer return than would be obtained from meat freights elsewhere. The Admiralty have taken altogether 56 frozen meat ships, out of 230 employed. Thirty-five are now conveying troops from Australasia, and will be released'in January and February. The release of 12 is uncertain and nine will be retained till the end of tho war. I have only just been able to get the above definite information from the Admiralty;" ' ;