OUR OVERSEAS TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 5 January 1915, Page 3

OUR OVERSEAS TRADE.

SHORTAGE OH-SHIPS. % FOR FOREIGN MEAT EXPORTS.

THE POSITION. EASIER.

By Telegraph.—Per Press Association,

Welling/on, Last Night. With reference to the statements recently telegraphed by the Press Association regarding the alleged shortage of. steamer space lor refrigerated cargo for' export from the Dominions during the months of January and.' February, the Prime Minister has issued the following, statement for the month of January,. '"An estimate wj;s prepared, based on the shipments for the month of January during the three previous years, and, having special regard to, the fact that. January shipments of last year were abnormally large on account of the dislocation of regular "jusincss brought about by the strike. ~;;This estimate allowed that seven steamers would be.required, with an average Capacity of, say, 100,000 carcases. Earlier in the season' it appeared that amplqj tonnage wouM' be available for January; but calculations have been upset to some extent bythd fact that meat shipments during December were larger than usual (partly on account of weather conditions, and partly on account of market conditions in Europe), and two ships at any rate which had been set down as available for January leading were practically loaded' with December produce, viz., the Mainari and the Kia Ora. Tliis left them the Orari, Whakatane, Somerset, Waiwera, Delphic, Indrapura, EI Cordobes ajld 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 fertile month of January, with due allowance made for increased production from year to year, should bersufflcient to cope with requirements. It must be borne in mind, however, that climatic conditipns continue abnormal in some parts of the country, and that market conditions in Europe arc quite unusual, and therefore nobody can be expected to accurately gauge beforehand the output of frozenmeat for the montli.

For February the Otaki, Remuera, Waimate, Kaikoura, llakarini, Corintliic, Waimana, Atlienip, Niwaru (total 1 _ nine vessels), with a capacity of 030,0U0 carcases, will be available. In addition the Hawke's Bay leaves London on 7tht - J Miliary, and will be available before the end of February. Four boats which, carried troops are returning to New; Zealand, viz., the Atlienic, Waimana,. Orari, and Hawke's Bay. Then the / Murilai, in consequence of efforts made by the Government, lias been released' by the Admiralty, and.can leave London 011 the lTth January, and will be available for early March loading. Telegramshave been sent to all freezing works tothe following effect:-'

"Greatly obliged"if you would inform me bow your company is situated bo far as can be known at present time." The replies so far received are, with one exception, satisfactory, and steps arebeing taken to see how far the position can be cased in this case. Endeavours were made to obtain the Marere and' ritar of Victoria now on the way to Australia, but the information about them was that they could not be 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 poßsiblc date."