OUR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 6

OUR PRODUCE.

BRITAIN'S PURCHASE, STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Nov. 10. Particulars regarding too requisition by the Imperial Government of the produce of the Dominion and the arrangements being made to handle tin; present season's output wore supplied in an interview with Mr. Massey.

The quantity of meat estimated to remain in store at the end of November will amount to approximately 2,000,000 0011) carcases, as against 101,311 on the »-.ame dale last year, said the Prime Minister.

A great deal has been done in the direction of providing further storage accommodation at freezing works, and this new storage when completed will provide space for an additional 1,332,700 001b carcases, of which 72DJ00 will be in the N'orth Island and 003,000 in the South Island. The completion of additions and extensions is to a_ great exterft dependent upon the arrival of the necessary material, but a. very large proportion should be available this season.

Space for a considerable quantity of new season's cheese will be avilable in steamers leaving this month. The total number of crates exported from the Dominion during the 12 months ending October 31, 1017, amounted to 400,357 crates, valued at .£3,102,231.

The total shipments of butter from the Dominion during the 12 months rndin? October ,11 last amounted to 781,6-1S boxes.

In regard to wool, practically the whole of the 101-0-17 clip lias now boon valued. Since the commencement of the Imperial Government requisition .101,301 bales of wool bad been purchased to November .1, valued at £ 11.0;i3,-!0<). and ?Co,2Jfi balers liad been shipped. Tlie Imperial Government had expressed its d?side to continue the purchase of freezing companies slipe wool on the 'flame terms as last year, and tllls matter was now leceiving attention. DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES. A statement has been made that arrangements for the sale of dairy produce in the Dominion have been very protracted, said the Prime Minister in a speech at Tuakau. The prices have now been fixed, and most of (he conditions arranged with the Imperial authorities, and the prices are slightly better than most people imagine, I. am just in receipt of an important advice from the Imperial Government about the matter, and prices and conditions will be announced by me in Wellington to representative-* of the Ministry when 1 return. Responsibility will be placed upon the Imperial Government to see that sufficient shipping is provided to take the produce to Britain.

Cur representative at Home, backed up by our own representations was unable, to induce the Food Controller to make a short advance on the supplies of butter and cheese going into store this month. After a certain amount of difficulty, because it was really not provided for bv Parliament, the Finance Minister and I have been able to make arrangements for an advance of £."> a crate on cheese and £3 per box on butter from Government funds for this month, to enable the dairy companies to rn'-et their obligations. It,is practically certain that within the next few days the whole of the detail.; will be settled, and by next month the Imperial Government will have taken over part of the .produce, for which the money will be immediately available.