PERISHABLE PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 9

PERISHABLE PRODUCE

SHIPPING AND STORAGE PEOB- ' LSMS. Some few weeks ago. when it was evident that there might bis trouble about the .holding of the very teg stocks of perishablo produce in cold stores throughout the Dominion, tho Government referred the matter for inquiry to a joint conference of the Efficiency Board, the Supplies Board of.Advices, and the Beard of Trajdo. This conference met. but adjourned after a short sittme in order to obtain information as to the amount of cold storaffe space available in the Dominion, and the possibility of extending the storace accommodation at different works with the present, plant?, for "its was assumed that extension of plants would ha out of the question until after the war.

This conference reassembled yesterday, and in addition to nil the. members of these three committees, the Minister (the lion. W. D. S. Mac Donald) was also ■present. The statistics had been collected in the meantime, and these were before the meeting. No information is .ivailftblo fts to whivi conclusions the conferenco arrived at, but a report will bo forwarded to the Government on the subject. A deputation representative of the dairying interests in both islands waited upon the conference. Thn members of if. had come to Wellington to confer with the Board of Trade on the butter-fat levy question, end took advantage of the opportunity to eneak to tho conference about the effect on the dairy industry of the shipping shortage and tho congestion of their products in tho stnres.

It is admitted that the position of the dairy industry is not satisfactory. In two months the new sanson will commence, and there will still at that time be a heavy hold-over of last year's produce.