SHIPPING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 8

SHIPPING PROBLEM

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION COMPARED WITH AUSTRALIA Mr. W. G. Foster, of the Wellington Heat Export Co., says that he has gone into tho question of whether Australia has an advantage i;ver New Zealand in tho matter of jonnage. .Mr. Foster claims to have discovered that tho allocation of such tonnage was made, by the Board of Trade to "Australasia." Now Zealand's proportion is fixed by the Australian Freight. Committee. On this information Mr. Foster made representations for the adequate and equitable treatment of New Zealand in tho matter of insulated tonnage, producers of this country suffering a shortage, (o lion. W. D. S. MaeDonald, Minister of Agriculture: Tho upshot of that was a cablegram to the .. lligli Commissioner from tho Acting-Prime Minister, impressing upon the Imperial! authorities the imperative necessity of better treatment of the Dominion in. the mailer of insulated tonnage. It was further learned that tho relatively easy position of Australia might not be unatl ributable , w certain influences on the Australian Freight Committee, However, the latest monthly shipping report of Birt and Co., Sydney, is the authority for the, statement that—"Tho outlook for frozen products is also much improved, and there are good prospects, of practically all our surplus meat and' dairy product" being exported, by the end of April, and before the neiv Queensland killing season gets into full swing. The Imperial Government has ngreed to provide space in requisitioned steamers for up to 15,000 tons of fruit, which should be a great boon to orchardists, particularly in view of the increasing promise of ■ a lifi'ge applo crop." ■ ' ' ■ "Now," continued Mr. Foster, "I have no doubt the future of the export\of frozen products is regarded, with equanimity in Australia. At the present time there are about two million- carcasses of meat in store there, whereas wo have some foitr to five millions in store here. I consider that our Government is being flouted in this matter, for Mr. MaeDonald !Vts received a cablegram in reply to the. effect that 1 practically no alteration will be made. In my opinion, tho public should know of tlieso fads, and the Government should understand that the time has arrived for it to take off its gloves in this matter. i\nd see that this country is fairly dealt with in the matter of' the allocation of insulated tonnage. "Australia, I am advised, has no 'old stock' of meat in store. It is welj, then, for producers to consider tho serious' loss that may accrue to them, and fanners should bssti.r themselves."