SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF TALLOW.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 January 1918, Page 3

SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF TALLOW.

SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS TO BE

RELAXED

WELLINGTON. Jan. 23

For some mouths the Government has been in constant telegraphic communication with the Imperial Government, pointing out the urgent necessity existing for providing tonnage for the shipment of tallow. On December 28th the Secretary of State for. the Colonies cabled to the effect that, owing to the serious shortage of tallow with which the United Kingdom was then faced, the Government would have wished to arangc for the shipment to the United Kingdom of all available supplies from New Zealand, but owing to the scarcity of tonnage' it was impossible to obtain freight for all the Australasian tallow required and the question was therefore being considered of installing a plant for splitting tallow in this Dominion. It was pointed out, however, that some months would probably elapse before this plant could be available, but thd meantime there would be no objection to the shipment of reasonable quantities of tallow to the United States, provided the stocks are not unduly exhausted, that no fats are diverted from the United Kingdom which could be shipped there, that no freight would be diverted from the United Kingdom and that no general permission ' should be given to ship to foreign countries; each ease to be considered separately and shippers to understand that the arrangements were strictly provisional. The High Commisioner was again communicated with on Jani uary 22nd to the effect that the whole of last season's output had not been shipped, resulting in a loss to the producers. Reference was included to The statements made that the producers in Australia had been able to ship tallow in large quantities and this aims causing much dissatisfaction to producers in this country. census of the stocks of tallow reveals that the quantity on hand probably exceeds 40,000 casks The Minister for Cu?* toms is prepared to consider applications to export tallow to other destinations than the United Kingdom on the terms notified by the. Secretary -■!■ c for the Colonies, and on the "•"' understanding that the arrangements arc provisional.