TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[by TIiLKGItACH. —i'Ktt JfHESS ASSOCIATION

OUR PRODUCE AT HOME. .DELAY IN UNLOADING. | AUCKLAND, .Jan. 3. Unreasonable delay in the unloading of New Zealand produce at British ports was recently the subject ofi a strong protest by Mr Massey to the Secretary of State for the Colonies through his Excellency the Governor-General. A cablegram, on December 29th from the Colonial Office stated that this , matter had been enquired into, and it j was not believed that the. congestion of shipping had reached a •risis. The | September position would be normal early this year, and the congestion was entirely due to the abnormal ini- . portation of meat greatly in excess of ; cold storage accommodation. During ! the last ten months the Port of Lon- , don Authority handed 66 per cent more j meat than it did in tire same’ period of 1913. Cold storage in London was ample for normal conditions. ■ The Port of Loudon Authority would ! continue to do everything possible to ease the situation. The delay and the waste of storage space was due to small separate consignments of meat arriving. There was no diinculty regarding the storage of butter and cheese, as the greater part was cleared at once. Putter and cheese could not be discharged until the meat had been placed in cold storage. The question of diverting ships had been found impracticable in most cases for the reason that meat definitely consigned to London could not at present be sent elsewhere.

MEAT TRADE WITH MANCHESTER GOOD OPENING FOR N.Z. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. To facilitate the shipment of New Zealand meat to Manchester, the authorities there have advised Mr -Massey that they are prepared to do everything possible in the lircction of providing storage and other necessary accommodation at the lowest cost possible. The Lord' Mayor of Manchester, who with other notable business men there approved of the proposed pool, in a cablegram to Mr Massey promised their assistance and co-operation in the development of the meat trade with that city. The message painted out dint Manchester serves oue-lilth of the population of Britain : therefore there ample scope for an extensive meat Made there.

Referring to this matter, .Mr Massey said it was satisfactory to know M at farmers were to be provided with it good opening to develop what lie hoped .• >i.i hi ultimately ptove to be a good market for their meat, lit was bound o have good results.

RIFLE SHOOTING. WEL KINGTON ASSOC I ATI ON. WELLINGTON, Jan. 3. At the Wellington Ride Association’s Meeting tit Trentham, several exchampions—R. J-. King (Opuki), Captain Masefield (.Marlborough), and \itliui Ballinger (Petone)—competed. In the Midfield aggregate Rifleman Hunt (Suburbs) won with it score of 139, D. Guiney (Retone) being runnerup with 138. Simmonds (Wanganui) :ds.) made 133. hi tin extra match Rifleman Spencer (Suburbs) made top score. In the 800yds match President -Marshall (Karori) made -19, Weir (Petone) 48, and Guiney (Petone). 16. In the 900yds match Webb (Karori) made 4", and- Spencer (Suburbs), 46. The 9ha nut ion.ship Aggregate resulted:— D. ,1. Guiney (Petone) 262 Sinmiomls (Wanganui) 261 Butler (Karori) 2-19 Masefield (Marlborough) 218 The teams’ match was won by Petone. The 1000yds match was won. by Simmoiuls (Wanganui)., with a score of 12. lit an extra match at i iOtiyds, Rifleman H. Harris (Christchurch), Rringle (Old Nava Is), Webb (Karori), and 111-J.es (G/eytown) tied-.

DAIRY PRODUCE. HOME MARKET DEPRESSED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. A cablegram received by tbe Bank of New Zealand from London gives tbe price of butter in London at 110 k to 120 s per cwt. It is stated that Ibis is below the pre war average, and prices further still, below tbe cost of production. The dairying industry of tbe Dominion is now in a critical position, for, not only is tbe market where it is, but' it is “menaced by the holding by tbe Imperial Government of 870,000 boxes of butter which it proposes to liberate on the market and is already handling with difficulty tiie supplies in excess of consumption. MOVE TO CHECK SALES. A meeting of dairy factory representatives is being held to-day in, Australia inasmuch as they are vitally interested in the matter of the present market weakness. A similar meeting has been convened for to-morrow in Wellington, when all New Zealand butter and cheese co-operative manufacturing interests will be represented. The business, it is understood, is to be consideration of advisableness of taking such action as may be necessary to prevent Imperial Government holdings of butter being used to unduly depress tbe already unpayable market. As indicating the state of the London market the National Dairy Association has received the following cablegram from London: “The condition of the butter market is still bad. Danish 154 s per cwt, New Zealand 118 s, Australian 90s to 104 s. Prices are irregular. Cheese: Canadian 80s to 100 s, New Zealand 80s to 90s, white and coloured. Market is quiet.”

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. WELLINGTON, Jan 4. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Thomas Phillips and Thomas Arthur Roberts were each fined £IOO, the former for using a building in Tory Street a 3 a common gaming house, and the latter for permitting the saime to be kept by Phillips. Nine men found on the premises were each fined 40a,

i MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, Jan 4. In a statement issued to-night regarding the proposed meat pool, Mi Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture), says: From communications received 'from farmers in various parts of the Dominion risk exists of. a misappre.hension arising, as a result of the overzealous efforts of those associated with the interests that are opposing the meat po»l proposals. I He also says: The proposals are made wholly and solely in the producers’ interests. After speaking in favour of the prfol, he says: “There should' be no misapprehension of the position. Tile producers must either come together for their own protection, or place themselves as far as the export of moat is concerned, at the mercy of outside trusts. The matter is in their hands. With a united body of producers behind it, the Government will he in ai position to act strongly and decisively.

GIRL DROWNED. OA.MARU, Jan 4. A drowning fatality occurred at Waiaki River at five o’clock this afternoon, near Georgetown, 18 miles from Oamarti, in which Mary Elizabeth Dromgoole, the 14-year daughter of a farmer living in the vicinity lost her life. Three girls were bathing in the Waitaki, and one got into difficulties. Another girl went to her assistance, but failed to reach her mate, and only just managed to reach the river bank herself. The girl Dromgoole sank, but although the body. was recovered within three minutes, artificial respiration, which was carried on for over an hour was unsuccessful.

MILITARY COMMISSIONS. WELLINGTON, Jan 4. The New Zealand Defence Department has notified eight New Zealand cades who graduated at Duntroon Military College, in Australia, that their commissions cannot lx> given to them, but that applications are to be invited for six commissions in the British and Indian armies. The need for retrenchment is the reason given for the refusal of Commissions. It was intended to train 10 cadets each year, hut there is only one candidate at present, probably owing to the uncertainty existing for some time. This has now crystallized into the above notioe. Tlie Defence Department is understood to be contemplating a further reduction in the number of officers employed additional to those already retrenched . WATRAR AT>A . FARMERS. , MASTERTON, Jan 4. A meeting of 300 farmers, representing every part' of the district, passed ai resolution in favour of a meat pool today, and appointed delegates to attend the conference in Wellington.