THE SHIPPING OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1918, Page 2

THE SHIPPING OUTLOOK.

SHORTAGE IN NEXT SIX MONTHS. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Pel). 19. Some months ago your correspondent stated in messages from Wellington that the shipping outlook for 1018 was bad as far as New Zealand was concerned, and that the Government was going to have great difficulty in moving the produce that it has undertaken to buy on behalf of the Imperial Government. The prediction was followed by some reassuring Ministerial statements, which are not confirmed by the latest reportsThere is unfortunately every reason to believe that the supply of shipping during the next six months is going to be seriously short. The submarine sinkings continue, the movement of American troops and munitions on a big scale has begun and the Imperial authorities must make the best possible rise of the ships at their disposal. New Zealand is at a disadvantage at such a time owing to the long time occupied in the voyage from the. United Kingdom and back. A significant fact in this connection is. that there are about three million tons of last season's Australian wheat still awaiting shipment!. Th«, wheat has been bought by the Imperial Government and it is needed in the United Kingdom. The position in New Zealand will be eased materialy by the increased cold storage accommodation that has been provided, by the freezing companies and harbor .boards with the assistance of the Government. ' But unless the supply of ships is much larger than the information from London suggests it will be, the congestion in the stores will beome severe before the end of the season. ■ That is the view taken at present by well informed commercial men as well as by the Ministers.