THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 5

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS MORE ABOUT THE WOOL COMMANDEER MINISTERS ATTEND FARMERS' CONFERENCE Tho subject of tho wool commandeer was again touched on by the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday, when the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister of Agriculture) and the Hon. D. H. Gutlirie (Minister of Lands) were present. In the course of some remarks to tho conference, Mr. Gnthrio said Hint tho information as to shipping had at times been so alarming that it would have been unwise to publish the facts, but at tho present time the situation gave less cause for anxiety. In Australia .acres of storage wore being provided to hold goods that might not ho got away, and ho disagreed with tho opinion that Australia's position was bettor than Now Zealand's. However, here- we had 5,236,000 carcasses of meat in storo in Now Zealand, and, as we had a storajjo capacity of 6,400,000 carcasses, wo had not much space to como and go on. Wfl had a possibility of lifting fiflOjOOO carcasses by September, and 1,000,000 might be the extent, of our relief. The position us to wool also needed serious consideration, but ho did not fear for wool so much as for meat. Mr. Mac Donald said that we lia<l got Into tho habit here of seeing the faults of others and failing to see their good noints. For instance, while some of (ho farmers wanted a free hand liero for the sale of their' products, they did not want the men at the other end of the i world to havo something in tho nature I of a free hand in dealing with Ihnso commodities. Respecting Witter, tho outlook for the 19111 season was not very good—not as good as iu the year just past. Tho meat question wa* a terj'l serious one It Mould ho highly advisable lo make provision for storing wool. Shipping might even become so nculo that it would be impossible fer Britain to let us have any shipping. As to soma of tho criticism that had been levelled <nt the wool contract, full details were not yet available, and when they were they would bo placed before the wool committees. Until then criticism might he deferred. Mr. Lysnar (Gisborne) agreed that criticism might ba deferred till further particulars were obtained. Ho went on to say that but for mismanagement and profiteering Now Zealand might- have been. Allowed moro ships. He declared that Australia was in a bettor position with shiopins thnn Now Zealand was. The lion. Mr. Mac Donald: They have '£10,000,000 worth of stuff there new! Mr. Lysnar: But it.is mostly wheat! Tho Hon. Mr. Mac Donald: It does not always tako much space (o accomniodato their moat, except rabbits. Mr. Lysnar said that by ils present system of selling its wool New Zealand was losing about ,£7,000,000. Tho Hon. Mr. Mac Donald: You are absolutely wrong. Tho Ministers here left to attend a Cabinet meeting. Mr. 15. Maxwell (Ovuinake) said that ho would like to move tho following:— "That after hearing the lions. MacDonnld and Giithrio, this conferenco has no desiro to allow any resolution to r.taml in the way of the conference expressing its support of and concurrence in tho notion of the Govornmont in ils endeavours to make the best possiblo nrrangoment they can as to tho purchase of wool and other products by ilia Imperial Government." Mr. Maxwell said that he took this attitude because ho understood that dolegates -had toted on the previous day under a misapprehension. After having heard the Ministers it might bo wiso to do this. Voices: No. Mr. Lysnar: They were not able to answer ono point. On a vote tho conferenco,declined to allow Mr. Maxwell to bring his motion on. ' Mr. G. L. Marshall (Marton) gave notico that, ho intended to move:—"That in view of the importance of tho decision of the conference on the wool question, the conference be given an opportunity of voting on the question by provinces so that tho Minister in charge may know what parts of tho country are dissatisfied with the present terms of purchase." WARNING FIGURES. Referring to the shipping situation yesterday, tho Minister in Charge of Imperial Supplies (the Hon. 1). Gutlirie) said that smeo tho outbreak of war nineteen New Zealand traders had boon lost, representing an* insulated capacity of 1,761,1)00 freight carcasses. This, iio said, showed what New Zealand was up against. In 191-4 we had 99 insulated ships loading on this coast, in 1915 we had 81 ships, in 1916 we had 78, ani in 1917 we had , o2. These figures showed how serious was New Zealand's position in regard to shipping at present. Ho did not Wish to be an alarmist, but he did wish farmers to know the facts of the situation. It was ,very fortunate for the Dominion that a sufficient number of ships had been sent here to take away the bulki,pf our produce. In all, wo had Bent away products to the value of £69,611,510 since the war. began, while wo had in store the following quantities of produce:—Meat, 5,236,917 freight carcasses; cheese, 318,866 crates; butter, 118,130 boxes; wool, G09.159 bales. Tho estimated valuo of these goods in storo awaiting shipment' was ,£23,250,000. Mr. Guthrie said that but for the fact that New Zealand had been able to ship fiixty-nino millions' worth of her produce it would not have been possiblo for the Government to have raised in the Dominion by way of loans the vast sum of forty-six millions sterling. In this respect the -Imperial remijsition of.our produce had been of great advantage to tho farmers and to the country.