SHIPPING CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 5

SHIPPING CONDITIONS

The following extract from Frank Waterhouse and Company's "Pacific Ports" of April, 1919, will be of special interest' to New Zealand producers, in view of recent references' to preference being shoivn to Australia in 'regard to shipping:—"Birt and Co., Ltd., 9f Sydney, Australia, in their monthly shipping roport just to. hand, give shipping conditions as existing there on January last. The report states: "'The possibility of increase in tonnage available for Australian loading to Europe and the United Kingdom indicated in our, last notes is being fulfilled, but, of course, it takes time'for the vessels to actually become available, owinL' to our distanoe from the seat of war, wliere. the tonnage is concentrated. However, advices'have been received of largo numbers of vessels becoming available for Australasia.'during March, the number being- about 144 steamers, and for April nearly half , this number. Many of these vessels are insulated, and therefore during March and April the lirospeots for frozen cargo shippers getting their! meat away are very much improved. The figures mentioned, embrace New Zealand as well as Australia, and. whilst Australia will get her fair share there are enormous quantities of refrigerated cargo, the property of tho British Government, in store in New Zealand. In fact, it is we'll known that whilst Australia's last season's meat has nearly all been exported. practically the whole of the season's production of meat in New Zealand still remains in store. All these insulated steamers also carry general cargo, and in addition to theso there are a large number of uninsulated vessels.'"