PREFERENTIAL CARGO

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 187, 27 April 1918, Page 8

PREFERENTIAL CARGO

LIST OF MOST ESSENTIAL GOODS.

In reply to a question asked in tho House of Representatives by Mr. J. M'Combs:-(l) Whether there is a preference list for the lading of cargo in the United Kingdom, United States of America, or any other country; (2) when that list came into existence; and (3) whether he will supply a copy of that list—the Hon. A. M. Myers. Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, replied that there is no preference list for the lading of cargo from the United Kingdom, the position being that there is more space available from Britain than ..there are goods to fill it. As regnrds the United States, tho position is reversed. _ More goods are available than there is tonnage to cany them. Consequently the list appended hereto has been) sent from New Zealand for the guidance of the Shipping Controller in America to give preference to,certain commodities. Thiß list is at present only applicable to the ports on the oast const of America. It is found that O'.ving to temporary congestion of railway traffic there is not sufficient preferential cargo offering to fill the ships loading nt west coast ports, and the Controller has' consequently allowed lading with the kinds of goods usually shipped, but having special regard to xgoods most essential to the necessities of the Dominion. The priority list for the United States is as follows*:—Agricultural seeds, meatwraps, canvas, agricultural and dairying machinery; sheep-shearing plant and motor-tractors, butter-paper, pnrnffin wax. surgical instruments, machine tools, artificer's tools, printing and. writing paper, iron, brass, copper, tin, and zinc, in pig, bur, sheet, or hoop; steel, tanning materials', chemicals, drugs, and dyes, electric appliances, bottles and jars, fencing wire and Btaples, metal wire, nails, paints, gum Iwots and grindery, motor trucks and lorries, railway plant and.rails, gas engines, portable and traction engines. This list was cabled to the United Kingdom on September 10, 1917.