MEAT FOR THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 6

MEAT FOR THE ALLIES

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association,) Auckland, March 8. "Nothing is to be gained by .the Government commandeering refrigerating space," declared the Prime Minister tonight, "because it would not make a single additional inch available, besides that there are difficulties in the way, as our legislation does not provide for anything of the . sort. The authorities who can commandeer space are the Imperial Government, acting on the advice of the Board of Trade. It has to be_ remembered that such action breaks existing contracts, the result of which would be that freights which are lower from New Zealand to Britain than from the Argentine or Australia would go up with a bound."

"There has been a great deal of criticism," added the Prime Minister, "in regard to the shortage of shipping, but it must be said that the circumstances during the present season have been exceptional, and we bave not had the best of good fortune in connection with insulated steamers. First of all the Kaipara was sunk, and then the Tokomaru met a submarine, the Nairnshire was commandeered by the Imperial Government, _ and afterwards took fire; the Muritai was damaged by collision, and only the other day we were informed by cable that the Surrey bad been torpedoed.- Several of the ships trading to New Zealand, and which call at Australian ports have been commandeered by the Australian Government, and several others by th« British Government. We required ii the early part of the season a certain number of insulated ships to take the first Expeditionary Forces to Egypt. By arrangements with shipping companies I brought three of these vessels back in ballast at very considerable expense to the, country, but by so doing effected a great saving of time to tho producers, who were naturally anxious to get their, meat away. I also arranged for the Muritai, after being repaired, to come back in ballast. ■ At my request the Canadian Government released a portion of our ships which they had commandeered, and the Australian Government allowed three to go which it contemplated taking possession of.Just lately the Australian Government gave ine an assurance that it did not propose to interfere with six ships of the Shaw. Savill, and Albion Line which are in Commonwealth waters at present, and will come to New Zealand. Then the Imperial Government, I learn, from communications which have reached me, is negotiating with shipowners in Britain to have as. many vessels, as possible made available for the carriage of frozen meat for the use of the Allied fOTces. "In spite of all 'these difficulties, up to January 31 we had 6ent away equal to 1,740,653 carcasses of mutton, as. compared with 866,877 for the corresponding period of last year. This increase was maintained in the same proportion right through Febru-, ary, so I feel certain that we are ahead of this time last year by at least 1,000,000.

"As to- prices," continued Mr. Massey, "I have endeavoured to arrange a scale of prices which would be. fair to the Imperial Government and also to the producers of this country. Up to the present I have not received a single complaint, and I believe that the great bulk of the_ producers and the people connected with the sieat trade are of opinion that it;has been done satisfactorily. It is quite likely that we shall get the first ship away with meat for the Imperial Government before the end ; of:_'this - week; _;The steamer concerned is the Ruahine, which is timed to leave Wellington on Thursday. It has been suggested that there might be "ome delay with regard to rthe'payments for meat. I am making arrangements so that payment will be made promptly either at the head office at Wellington or at any of the banks doing business in New Zealand on presentation of the necessary documents."