SHIPPING HOLD-UP.

Shannon News, 2 October 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING HOLD-UP.

PRODUCE MULTIPLYING RAPIDLY. The shipping hold-up, if continued much longer, will he a serious matter for New Zealand dairy farmers. The chairman of tire New Zealand Dairy Control Board (Mr W. Grounds) had. something forceful to say on the subject last week. “Four siiips that should have _ already sailed with allocations of butter and clieese,” said Mr Grounds, “are held up in various harbours, the Arawa having been fully loaded for dispatcli on the outbreak of this strike a month ago.. Had the production of the 1 season been normal there is little doubt that the stores would already have been seriously congested. Produce from now onward will be multiplying rapidly, so that a very serious position will develop unless the produce is got aw : ay. In the meantime prices are soaring to a high level :n London, which must inevitably n-act on the producers by a slump in prices when the accumulated supplies arrive upon -the market. tt is unnecessary. to add that wdiile the dairy farmer receives the initial blow of such a breakdown in prices, the effect is quickly transferred to the whole public by the decreased purchasing power of the primary producer. “Another serious aspect of the holdup,” lie proceeded, “is that the boats that are now held up in New Zealand waters were limed to return to New Zealand in January and February for loading during the peak season, so that it is difficult to estimate the full extent of the cumulative effect of the suspension of shipping. “Still another serious aspect is the fact that apparently the Argentine and non-British countries, our competitors in the supply of the British market, are experiencing no trouble in getting away their supplies. Taking advantage of the opportunity thus provided, they are making every effort to replace us on the'British market.”