MEAT FOR THE ARMIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 6

MEAT FOR THE ARMIES

NEW ZEALAND'S SUPPLY NEEDED. Definite information was received by the Prime Minister yesterday as to what action the Imperial authorities desire the New Zealand Government to take in order to securc our exported meat for the use of the armies of Great Britain and her Allies. Tho Imperial authorities' request is that the whole of New Zealand's surplus supply of frozen meat, which presumably moans ail meat riot required for ships' stores, shall be secured for them. Up till yesterday there was some doubt as to whether the "whole • surplus" included lamb, and the advice now is that the instruction is to' apply to lamb. "Actiou will be tilken forthwith to comply with the request," 6aid Mr. Masscy to a' Dominion reporter. The details 'will require some working, out,, but, spoaking generally, the position has been made clear. I have not the very slightest doubt in my own mind that wo shall receive every possible assistance from the producers and freezing companies throughout tho Dominion. The conference to be held to-morrow between myself aud the representatives of freezing and shipping companies and the Board of Agriculture will be chiefly concorned with the difficulty of providing refrigerated space for "our exports, but J shall ask the representatives to express an opinion in regard to the.details of the work that must b'e undertaken to give effect to the request of the Imperial Government. "So far as it is possible to judge," lid added, "the position in the North Island in regard to storage and shipping is not nearly go acute as in Canterbury aud North Otago, and my opinion, and tho opinion of those in the business, is that the difficulty can be got over without - any serious loss, though probably there will bo a little more delay than would, have been tlie case if a sufficient supply of ships had been obtainable."