DISLOCATION OF SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1917, Page 7

DISLOCATION OF SHIPPING.

J. .. rrvr«« * SIR JAMEti ALLEN'S WAItMING. (Special Correspondent). 1 Wellington, May '4. Sir James Allen's recent statement that Now Zealand must be prepared for increasing difficulty in the shipment of produce, has created some anxiety in local commercial circles. Your correspondent gathered in the course of soino inquiries on the point that the warning is regarded aa by no means an idle one. (The pressure of the submarine campaign l is forcing the Imperial authorities to put every ton of shipping to the most effective and economical use, regardless 0 1 &on..timental considerations, and obviously it is not economical to carrv foodstuffs from New Zealand to the United Kingdom if cargoes can be secured at ports nearer Home. Canada's wheat and potatoes .and South America's meat and maize mav be lifted by British ships ■while some part of New Zealand's produce waits. Apparently there is no exact information yet available regarding the intentions of the Imperial authorities. But it is a fact that ships have been diverted from the New Zealand trade to the American coaet already, for the reason 1 that they could make two trips in s give'n time. Tho number of New Zealand's own traders has not been reduced materially, though every loss by sub'marine attack is serious. But what fli'e the chance? of getting oxtra ships this year, as was done in 1915 and 1918? The stores in the meantime are very full, and a certain amount of embarrassment seems to be inevitable.