THE SHIPPING OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 8

THE SHIPPING OUTLOOK

The primary producers of tho Dominion wlio have been in conference at Palmerston North during the week naturally displayed much concern over the outlook for the shipping of, their produco overseas. Tho Chairman of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand at the annual meeting of shareholders of that institution yesterday also referred to the shipping problem as tho greatest difficulty wo have to face. A serious and perplexing problem, Mil. BeAUckamp described it in his refereuco to the probable effects on our primary industries of the shortage of shipping facilities. Everyone, indeed, who lias given the subject, any attention, must realise that tho situation is most disquieting- not only from tho point of view of tho primar.v producers who aro most immediately concerned, but also as affecting the, whole Dominion. Owing to tho diversion of ocean-going vessels from the Now Zealand, trade, our cold stores have been filling up with perishable, produce instead of themeat and butter and cheese being shipped overseas as it came forward from the meat works and factories. Many millions of pounds' worth of the products of our primary industries arc lying in cold store; a.t the present moment awaiting shipment,' and so far as the producers are concerned the outlook for vessels to carry their foodstuffs to the markets so anxiously awaiting them is gloomy indeed. In the meantime, in Great.Britain itself and in the producing- countries -nearer to her than we are—that is,- in Ca-nada- and America-—supreme , efforts are being made to meet the shortage in thosemarkets which New Zealand has in tho past always found open to her. It is well that the people of the Dominion should realise the position. Not onlv is the produce of the' Dominion being held up hero, but the future for our primary products is being prejudiced by the introduction to our chief ma-rket of supplies which, if maintained after the war, will mean :new and formidable rivalry. The situation, of course, was unavoidable. The Imperial Government, faced with the pressing peril of the food shortage, was compelled to commandeer all tho available vessels to carry food from tho nearest possible source of supply. Any representations made by the New Zealand Government could bot be expected to have the effect of diverting the commandeered vessels from the special duties on which they were being employed while that emergency lasted. The most that could be attempted was to . make clear to tho Imperial authorities tho position here, and to urge tho return of tho vessels to their old trading route? at the earliest possible moment. Such re-presentations have been made, and the outcome has jet to be made known. In his address to the producers at Palmerston North tho Minister of Agrictlture, mi explaining the embarrassing situation of the Government, made this remark: "The position of tho Ministry at the present time was that, while they were criticised by. I he. people, they had to take it quietly, for they could not blazon forth in public 'what arrangements they had made and what ships were coming here to load." There is some encouragement to be found in tins remark, for it may lie taken to indicate that though tho Government cannot disclose the information in its possession because of the linger from tho enemy's submarines and raiders, yet it has some definite knowledge which if .made known would show the situation in a lie tier light When the Prime Minister returns to New Zealand we may < xpect to learn something more tlehnite regarding the prospect ahc-id, but in the meantime the warning issued by the Chairman of the Bank of New' Zealand should be taken to heart by everyone—that is, the need for a more economical code of living. Our prosperity is so wrapped up in

the fortune" which attends"' our primary producers, in .the markets overseas that wo cannot afford to ignore tho will for cautious spending arising out. of the shortago of. ocean freights between New Zealand and Groat Britain.