FROZEN MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 7

FROZEN MEAT.

the shipping shortage.

LARGELY INCREASED EXPORTS.

Wellington, March 2fl. The exports for February were valued at £3,0G5,228 against £3,309,513 for February last year. The Prime Minister, commenting on these figures, said: "Approximately we have shipped from New Zealand a million carcases of mutton and lamb daring the month of February. None of this meat was, however, shipped to the order of the Imperial Government, for operations on their behalf did not commence till March 3. I think these figures constitute the record export for one month. "The difficulties caused by the short supply of ships to carry our meat fire not now so acute as they were, but thtve are not yet ships enough. From .Tun? 1 the indications are that there will be <". sufficient number of ships available for our purposes, but for May definite arrangements have not been' made by the shipping companies. These arrangements are being made in London by a committee of shipowners working with the Board of Trade and also with a committee of shipowners here. The Board of Trade, acting for the Imperial Government in the meat supply business, lias agreed to the increase in rates of freight on meat, which increase the Board of Trade will pay. This increase has been made as the result of representations made by me on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

"With regard to the scarcity of insulated ships for our trade, it may be stated that from the Argentine freights for frozen meat were some 50 per cent, higher and from Australia about 25 per cent, higher than the freights obtainable for New Zealand cargoes."