FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 178, 6 January 1915, Page 8

FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

THE QUESTION OF SHIPPING SPACE. PRIME MINISTER SATISFIED. NO SHORTAGE IN JIANUARY. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In reply to statements appearing in the Evening Post to-night from Mr. 11. G. Hill, general manager of the Bristol and Dominions Producers' Association, 1 regarding shipping space for the export ' of New Zealand produce, the Prime Minister stated that Mr. Hill takes exception to his statement that the Buteshire is one of the ships available to cope with January shipments. It was not suggested that each boat sailing in January wolud take only meat from stock slaughtered in January, or from any particular port. As a matter of fact, the Buteshire left Aucklanad for Waitara, ahd there lifted 8000 carcases. All boats loading in the early part of any month may he expected to take a proportion of meat killed during the previous month. It was never said that it was estimated that the carrying capacity of the seven steamers mentioned for i January shipment was 100,000 carcases I apiece. What was actually stated was' that when the original estimate was made as to the number of steamers likely to be wanted for January ship-' ments, it was considered that seven would he required, with an average capacity of, say, 100,000 carcases each. Later in the Prime Minister's statement, whei'7 the steamers available for January shipments were named, it ivas stated that the seven boats mentioned have' a capacity of, approximately, 707,500 freight carcases. Although Mr. Ilill may not be aware that steamers have had to leave without their refrigerated space being entirely filled, owing to sufficient refrigerated cargo not being available, such has happened. In the telegram to the Prime Minister, quoted by Mr. Hill, he states that he was advised by telephone the previous night that the Masterton works had circularised farmers to the effect that, owinsr to the works being blocked, thehy would be closing down in a few days. This statement was made by Mt. Hill on Friday last, and whatever may have been the case then, absolutely reliable information in the hands of the Prime Minister to-day (Tuesday) is to the effect that the management of the works in question does not anticipate any serious trouble.

In respect to Wanganui, inquiries made by the Prime Minister have elicited information to the effect that the storage accommodation there lias not been blocked, nor is it likely to be blocked, for January. In the case of Patea, some difficulty has arisen, and inquiries are being made with a view l to ascertaining how the matter can be remedied, although it has not been previously represented to the Prime Minister. Since the Prime Minister's statement to the Press, information has now become available that the Makarini and the Nlwaru, which were set down for February loading, will be available for January, and will be able to carry 212,000 carcases between them. Last year eighteen steamers were sufficient to carry refrigerated cargoes during the two months of January and February. February shipments of meat are heavier than January shipments. Yet we have half the total number of'steamers required last year for these two months available for January of this year, exclusive of the Buteshire. Further, it must be remembered that meat shipments in January of last year were far in excess of normal, on account of the dislocation of shipping, caused by the waterside workers' strike in the closing months of the previous year.

The Prime Minister adds: "It is rather remarkable that Mr. Hill is the only person in any way connected with the freezing industry who has so far voiced any serious complaints to the Government with regard to the lack of shipping space."