SHIPPING SPACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 49, 21 November 1917, Page 8

SHIPPING SPACE

ALLOTMENT TO DOMINION PORTS. '' The "Otago Daily Times" states that ;the following communication has been "received by Mr. H. Mitchell (secretary .of tho Otago Branch of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union) from tho Hon. AY. D. S. MaoDonald'(Minister of Agriculture), iu reply to the Otago Union's complaint concerning shipping matters :— .. "I should like to stato that Ihc shipSing question has ken given a. great eal of consideration by the Government, and has'caused it no little anxiety, Tho producers and freezing companies do not, I think, quite understand tho position. E«garding the personnel of (lie Tonnage Committee I must say that it is appointed solely by the Shipping Controller in England, and the New Zealand Government has absolutely no voice in connection therewith—not even with the appointment of Mr. Triggs. Tho whole of the overseas shipping is controlled by tho Shipping Controller in England, and all questions in regard thereto aro secret and confidential, and must necessarily bo so while the Empire is at war. Tou will Red, therefore, that it would be quilo impossible'to set up local committees throughout ilie Dominion. ' "Early in the year I went fully into the suggestion that preference was being given to some ports in the matter of chipping, and while I admit that some ports were perhaps unduly favoured satisfactory reasons were in most cases forthcoming. Under existing arrangements each overseas boat has its ports of call (not more than four) allotted to it in London, and with a view to economising time many of the refrigerated boats that come from Australia to finish loading in New Zealand are allotted only one

port. The result is that Wellington, owing to its geographical position, has a considerable advantage over eonie of the other New Zealand! ports. "However, as I have stated, I discussed tho matter fully with the Controller, of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies and with the Tonnagri Committee, and gave them clearly to understand that every port was, as far as possible, to be allotted its fair share- of refrigerated space. I have not been in charge of the Department since .Tune last, but the Ttight Hon. tho Prime Minister, who resumed control at that time, is fully acquainted .with the position, and is doing his best to meet it satisfactorily."