DESPERATE SITUATION DEMANDS DESPERATE REMEDIES.

Shannon News, 6 October 1925, Page 2

DESPERATE SITUATION DEMANDS DESPERATE REMEDIES.

BANKS WARN COMPANIES TO CLBTAiL ADVANCES. A telegraphic communication from the Daily Control Board to aii dairy companies throughout New Zeaianu stresses the necessity ol taking immediate steps to have ocean sterm .is proceed overseas with New /••tuand produce. The Board further asks the companies tq prepare lists in their particular districts ol men who would volunteer to go overseas as deckhands, stokers, etc., at the same time securing all particulars of the seataring experience ol such men and forwarding all details gathered to the Control Board at the earliest possible moment.

It may. be assumed- that the Control Board has not decided upon such drastic measures without being fuliy convinced that a prolongation of Lie present shipping hold-up would josuit in disastrous losses to thcNtsv Zealand dairy industry, and that the prospects of an early settlement are very poor indeed. SHIPPING DISORGANISED FOR MONTHS TO COME. On submitting this matter to a gentleman in closest touch with the Dairy Control Board and the dairy industry generally, a representative of the" Palmerston Times" was inionued that the situation was certainly becoming very grave, The factor which no doubt decided the mem bers of the Board to take immediate action was the cancelling of the sailings of a large number of overseas steamers timed to: leave Great Britain during the hist week or so. This, he said, would most likely be followed by the cancellation of many other vessels' sailings with the result that the whole of our shipping would be disorganised for many months io come. On being questioned as to the probable attitude of the Government, the opinion was.given that the Government was quite prepared and willing to act and act quickly, provided the people of the Dominion showed anything like unity in, this direction. \\ remained for the producers to say what steps they deemed necessary to get their produce to-the oversea markets and he felt .sure the Government would meet them as far as it could. A GENERAL STRIKE UNLIKELY. The opinion was expressed that a general'shipping strike was most unlikely. Although the watersiders and seamen's unions were supporting the strikers financially, the. New .'.eaiuil leaders would rather have anything but a strike at the present moment. Though the present hold-up was keenly resented by producers, a general shipping strike would be fatal to the cause of Labour at.the coming election, as it would completely alienate any sympathy that the primary producers of New Zealand might have towards that party. BANKS TAKE ACTION OVER ADVANCES.

On being asked as to the probable effect of the present trouble from the financial standpoint, our informant stated that the banks had already intimated that in view of a prolonged cessation of shipping* the advances on produce should be curtailed as far as possible. This will mean, ol course, that the advances by Dairy Companies to suppliers will be reduced correspondingly, and although such a course will inflict a great hardship on producers, it can easily be seen that it will become necessary. "The position is certainly desperate," concluded the speaker, "and requires a desperate remedy. It may quite easily mean that the history of, 1913 will repeat itself. If the seamen refuse to take our produce to the Home markets, we shall have to take it ourselves, but Home it must go, by some means or other."