OUR OVERSEAS TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 3, 5 January 1915, Page 3

OUR OVERSEAS TRADE.

ALLEGED SHORTAGE OF STEAMER SPACE. Per. Press 'Association. Wellington,, January 11. With reference to the statements recently telegraphed by the Press Association regarding the alleged; shortage of steamer space for refrigerated cargo for export from the Dominions dining the months of January.,, and February, the Prime Minister has issued the following statement for trie month of January, 1915:

“An estimate was prepared, based on the shipments for the month of January during the three, previous years, and. having,.special regard to the fact tliat January shipments of last year were abnormally large on account ot the dislocation of regular business brought about by the strike. This estimate showed that seven steamers would be. required, with an average capacity of, say, 100>000 carcases. Earlier in the season it appeared that ample tonnage would be available for January, but calculations have been upset to some, extent by the fact that ‘meat shipments during December were larger than usual (partly on account of market conditions in Europe), and two ships at any rate which had been set down as available for January loading were practically loaded with December produce, viz., the Hainan and the Kia Ora. This left them the Orari,. "Whakatane, Somerset, Waiwera, Delphic, Indrapura, El Cordobes and Buteshire to cope with January shipments. These boats .have , a capacity of approximately 707,500 freight carcases, which, based on a normal year’s shipments of meat and dairy produce for the month of January,.with due allowance made for increased production from year to year, should he sufficient to cope with requirements. It must be jjprne in mind, however, that climatic conditions continue abnormal in some parts of the country, and that market conditions in Europe are quite unusual, and therefore nobody can be expected to accurately gauge beforehand the output of frozen meat for the month.

lor February the Otaki, Reran era, A\-annate, Kaikoura, Makarini, Corinthic, Waimana, Athenic, Niwaru (total nine vessels), with a capacity of 930,000 carcases, will be available. In addition the Hawke’s Bay leaves London on 7th January, and will be available before the end of February. Four boats which carried troops are returning to New. Zealand, viz., the Athenic, Waimana, Orari, and Hawke’s Bay. Then the Muritai, in consequence of efforts made by the Government, has keen released hy the Admiralty, and can leave London on the 17th January, and will be available for early March loading. Telegrams have been sent to all freezing works to the following effect:—

“Greatly obliged if you would inform me how your company is situated so far as Oau be known at present lime.” The replies so far received are, with one exception, satisfactory, and steps are being taken to see how far the position can be eased in this case. Endeavours were made to obtain the Marere and Star of Victoria now on the way to Australia, but the information about them was that they could not bo made available for New Zealand. Up to the present no difficulty has been experienced in the carriage of dairy produce. The Government are paying part compensation for those troopships which are being brought back in ballast in order to take up their running at the earliest possible date,’*