SHIPS & PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 10

SHIPS & PRODUCE

PRESENT POSITION STATED

OFFICIALLY

STOCKS OF FROZEN MEAT

SOME IMPROVEMENT IN

SEPTEMBER

Tho Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, ActingMiiiistcr for Imperial Supplies, yesterday issued tho following Mateir.ent with reference to the shipping position and tho stocks of refrigerated produce held in the Dominion:

"Throughout Uhe whole of the war and since the signing of tlin armistice, no opportunity lias been lost and no effort spared by the Government in its endeavours .to obtain a sufficient supply of tonnago for tho Dominion's needs, and, while a great deal has bean accomplished in this direction, very many difficulties have been met wiOh, principally owing to the necessity during hostilities of diverting tonnage to shorter routes to meet the urgent military and naval requirements of Great Britain and her Allies, and to losses of tonnage due to enemy action. Continuous representations havo been made to tho Imperial Government through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the High Comrui&sioner, and personally by the Dominion's representatives attending the conferences in London, as well as by the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, all with more or less satisfactory results. War Tonnage. "The following statement shows tho number of insulated steamers which havo sailed from the Dominion during the live years 1911-18 inclusive, together with their total insulated owvrying capacity, and furnishes a clear indication of tho difficulties which have been experienced in connection with this matter:—

Total insulated capacity Steamers. COlb. carcasses. 1911 99* ' 8,800,700 1915 84 7,082,000 1016 78 7,322,500 1917 02 5,020,350 1918 52 1,920,300 eight steamers used as transports for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October, 1914, only a small proportion of Hie insulated capacities of which was available for New Zealand produce.

"During August, 1918, on intimation was received from the Ministry of Shipping that it was anticipated t that 5,50f1,000 cubic feet of refrigerated space would bo available from New Zealand to tlie United Kingdom during the period July to Decomber. 1018, and t!hat 20,000,000 cubic feet would bo available to Australasia during the year 1910. An attempt was made to obtain from the High Commissioner, an intimation as to the probable allocation of this latter quantity as betweon New Zealand and Australia, but it was not found possible to obtain ,it, as the subsequent allocation of the space depended entirely on. tho' Tood Ministry's ■subsequent requirements.

General Cargo Cleared. "During tho latter months 4of 1918 further urgent efforts were mado to increase tho quantity of insulated, space then being made available, and on January, 2,5, 1919, a dispatch was received from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that the cessation of hostilities had rolensed tonnage previously engaged in military, naval, and munition ' services, and ended the war losses, damages, and convoy delays. Under those circumstances it was found possiblo (o restore to their original trades the' majority of liners withdrawn in pursuance of the policy of consolidating all available tonnago on the shortest routes, and the hopo was oxprcssod that from Fobruary onwards New Zealand would gradually begin to feel tho effect of this restoration, This hope baa been realised in so far as the provision for tho carriage of general cargo has been concerned, and the number of steamers recently available has boen sufficient to make a satisfactory clearance of tho congestion which had previously existed throughout practically every port in tho Dominion. Refrigerated Space. ''Tho same relief, unfortunately, was not forthcoming in the caee of refrigerated cargo, and tho congestion in ruspeet to frozen meat has beon very severely felt. The main factor causing the shortage of insulated tonnage ia referred to in tho reply from the High Commissioner to ono of the very many cablegrams dispatched on the subject:— "OablegTiam sent to High Commissioner, dated February 20, 1919—'Insulated tonnage: Position of freezing industry is becoming' very serious, owinif shortness of shipping facilities. A number of freezing works are already closing down, and thero >is a largo quantity of stock available, which must suffer deterioration, unless it can bo properly treated. Pleaso make urgent representations to Shipping Controller to provido additional insulated tonnago at earliest date possible, and telegraph reply. Would also appreciate a forecast of tonnage to be made available for loading in tho Dominion during April, May, and Juno.' "Cablegram received from High Commissioner, dated February 25, 1919:—'In-1 sulated tonnago: With reference to your telegram February 20, have made representations to Ministry of Shipping, and am verbally informed Hint programme given my telegram January 18 remains unaltered, and that space mentioned will be available, but that delay occurring owing to labour troubles and epidemics. Same causes prevent reliable forecast tennago likely to be mo.de available for , months mentioned. I am informed that up to end April sixteen insulated steamers will ho diverted to Australasian trade.' Further Representations. "Although it was anticipated, in view of tho statement in tho latter message to the effect that tho programme outlined in January last remains unaltered, and that the space mentioned would become available, that the position would spocdily improve and the quantity of meat in tho various stores throughout the Dominion be considerably reduced by the end of the year, the possibility of a serioue position arising still remained, and very many further cablegrams have been exchanged on tho bubject. . "Tho Higli Commissioner for New Zealand cabled from London on July U as follows:—'lnsulated tonnage: With reference to your telegram of Juno 28 and:: July 8, have made strong representations to Ministry of Shipping, Board of Trade, and Conference Lines urging substantial increase of tonnago from New Zealand, and will continue to press matters. Meanwhile I am informed that New Zealand receiving every consideration, but that it has been found impossible to allocate moro than 17,000 tons refrigerated space during August. Not less- than 30,000 tons will be availabio September, bnt no estimate can bo given for later months, and above estimates may have'to be modified if ships delayed.

"A reply was dispatched pointing out that in view of the tremendous quantity of meat in store (approximately 8,000,000 ' fifllb. carcasses) and the close approach of ■ the new season., the tonnago indicated '• was quite inadequate for the Dominion's i urgent requirements. It was pointed out that delay in arrival of stettmors would .probably mean that (lie 47,000 tons referred to would be spread over Aiigust, September, and October, and that it was estimated that after allowing for dairy produce shipments, the qunntity of meat in store awaiting shipment at tho commencement of tho new season would ■ amount to approximately 6,000.000 6011). ' carcasses. It wns requested that very i urgent representations should be made Niml that it should bo pointed out that it was considered essential that tho meat in store should bo reduced to ■ 4,000.000 (iO)b. carenssss by December next—otherwise un extremoiy serious position would i nrise.

Position More Hopeful. "A further reply is now to hand from ilia High Commissioner; dated London, July 30, reading as follows:—'lnsulated • tonnage: With reference to my telegram ■ July U, your telegram,. July ffi. I have further represented seriousness of position to Australasian Tonnage Committee. They fire unable to allocate more- thnn 17,090 ! tons during August, but hope to iinI prove on the .'10,0(10 tons promised diirine ' September. 'J'hoy inform mo they arb ! working to meet request contained in

cablo from Wellington Tonnago Committee, namely to reduce quantity of meat in store iii New Zealand by December 1 to approximately 10S,000 tons.' "This shows the position to bo more hopeful, but delays, due to various causes, such as those referred to earlier in this article, must bo taken into account.

"While a very great deal has been accomplished in tho direction of increasing tho storage accommodation at rnnny- of ■{he freezing works, in some districts tho shortage of accommodation has been very severely felt during the past, season, and it is hoped that freezing companies will very carefully consider this aspect of the situation with the approach of another season's killings."