SHORTAGE OF SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2490, 17 June 1915, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF SHIPS

AUSTRALIA'S LOT POSITION EXTREMELY ACUTE A letter has eome to tho authorities here from the Imperial Government Frozen Meat Australian Shipping Committee, Sydney, dated May '27. This letter shows, amongst other things, that Now Zealand is not tho only country that is suffering from lack of shipping space. Following is an extract from tho letter:— "I understand that a communication was recently received by the Prime Minister of New Zealand to the effect that there aro nineteen meat boats in all loading in Australia during May, and that although they will all bo filled, two or throe could very well bo spared for Now Zealand. Although the statement that ninetee-i moat steamers load in Australia in May is correct, it is liable to cause misapprehension, as for your information 1 might mention that of tho nineteen steamers loading in May only seven steamers were under the control of tlio committee, out of which threo wero mail steamers, possessing very limited insulated space. Tho twelve remaining steamers were transports, and under the direct control of tho Commonwealth Navy Office as to their ports of lading, and tho quantity of meat which each steamer could lift, Guch quantities being governed by military considerations. "That two or threo steamers could have been spared is absolutely inaccurate. The position in Australia this month has been most acute, and will be even more acute next month. In Queensland a largo number of tbe works have already been blocked, and had to stop operations with disastrous ofl'ects to the cattle already on the road. As you will no doubt have heard, the Imperial Government are anxious that beet' sliould receive preferelico. Tho majority of tho beef exported from Australia goes from Queensland, whoro_ it has beon quite impossible for us to give the works the opportunities of shipments that thev require. 11l addition to the beef in Queensland, thore is a large quantity of mutton, which has been in store in Queensland for some months, and which the committee have been unablo up to the present to touch, and are not likely to -be able to lift for some timo to come vet. "Tho position at Sydney and Melbourne is that meat is at present in storo which has been ihere for four or five months, and there is no possibility of our being able to clear this up until July, at any rate. "Taking it' all round, it seems' that. New Zealand has been quite as well, if not better, treated than Australia in connection with the supply of tonnage, especially seeing that oeef is what tho Imperial authorities particularly require. For your further information, the committee have under their control on I v threo steamers for allotment in June, out of which one is a mail steamer with very limited insulated space, while total space 111 requisitioned steamers and transports in June will, I estimate, lift only about one-third of the meat awaiting shipment."