WHAT PRODUCERS THINK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2495, 23 June 1915, Page 9

WHAT PRODUCERS THINK

GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS APPRECIATED. MINISTER OF COMMERCE PROPOSED. Questions relative to the shipment of New Zealand produce to British markets were discussed at the National Dairy Conference here to-day. It was stated that an Auckland deputation is on its way to Wellington to interview the Prime Minister on tho ships subject at 3 p.m to-morrow. Two Taranaki members of the National Dairy Association are joining in with tho Aucklanders, and it is said that somo important suegestions will be made. Auckland, by the way, may complain that it has not received a fair share of the ships available for New Zealand. The conference resolved that a standing committeo bo set up, representing the whole of the North Island, to take such action as it deems necessary to promote the interests of the industry in connection ■with tho transport facilities and other special matters, such committee to consist of the National Dairy Association Executive, representatives of local committees which arc, or may be, set tip to represent _ tho different districts. Tho representatives of tho standing committee are to be appointed at the rate of two from Taranaki, two from Auckland, two from Wellington, and two from Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay combined. Mr. Dash, a Wairarapa delegate, said that he had a son working in New York who had told him that there were acres of German vessels resting in New York Harbour. Mr. Dasli suggested that an endeavour might be made to got ono acre of them. Mr. Pacey said that he had had a growing conviction that we were approaching a crisis and that wo should at onco set to work to increase our storage capacity here and improve our transport, facilities. He agreed with Mr. Dash that, if tho international law new! not he broken, efforts should bo made to secure some of the interned ships. An acre of those vessels in New York Harbour would bo mora valuable than an aero of Taranaki land. He

moved that tho meeting requests the delegates to the deputation which is to meet the Prime Minister to-morrow to urge — (a) That some of the interned steamers be brought into use to liberate refrigerated space, (b) That the working of the steamers be altered to economise time to secure more trips, (c) That the insulated space .'.n '.be presuit steamers could be increased, (d) That representation upon the Overseas Committee should be given ft) suid other commercial inteiedcs. (e) That a Minister of the Crown should bo appointed to the Overseas Committee, (f) That a Minister of Commerce should be appointed by the Gova.'ituiou:, such Minister to be chairman, of the Overseas Committee. Regarding Clause (b) Mr. Pacey said that at present a vessel loaded at a big port and then meandered round the coast pickup up small lots of produce.. It miglu be possible to arrange for all the piodv.ce to be taken to the big port; idso one ship could be sent to Wellington and rne to Auckland, and so on. Ordinarily a trip by ono of these ve.'ools <ccupied seventeen weeks. Since the war the time worked out at live and a half months, so there seemed to be room for much improvement in the way of getting ships to make more trips. Moreover, great improvement could be made by providing more insulated space on the ships. An expert told bun that some vessels could be so altered as to make room for' 20,000 more boxes of butter on each one. The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr. Jacob Mark, of Mangatoki, the. conference unanimously carried the following resolution: — "That the National Dairy Association of New Zealand in conference assembled, fully realising the magnitude of the struggle in which our Empire is engaged, tender our appreciation to the Right Hon. W. I'. Massey and his Government in their conduct of New Zealand's , part in the war. We further promise, on behalf of those engaged in t!he industry, their continued willingness to contribute men and money to assist in bringing the war to a successful issue, and to better enable, our men at the front to be fed, and the sinews of war to be provided. 'We ask our Government to assist, through the Imperial Government, and such other way as they deem best, in providingMimely shipping for the conveyance of our dairy and other foodstuffs to the required destination."