SPACE FOR SPIRITS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1918, Page 2

SPACE FOR SPIRITS.

• THE SHLPPISFG PROBLEM. EFFICIENCY BOARD AT WORK. Wellington, July 2. An important question, covering the use and alleged abuse of -shipping, was raised in the following letter from the Efficiency Board's chairman, Mr. W. Ferguson, read at Monday's meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: "Numerous complaints having been current from time to time during the last few months in various parts of the Dominion, alleging the importation of goods that may be deemed to be luxuries : or non-essentials to the exclusion of essential goods, the National Efficiency j Board has decided to make enquiries in each centre with! a view to aaofisttdning j if there is any serious foundation for ] these statements. K your chamber can j smist me by the supply of deflniter in- ' formation bearing on this point,, I shall ! be pleased to receive same. I "I suggest that it may "he? that ihdi- j vidual firms who would be unwilling' to> j disclose their business to trade com- I I petitors would be willing to forward! to> i this board details where they wouklhsver ! advice of goods awaiting consignment j at ports of shipment that have-not beeni I forwarded, whilst other goods appearing; ; to be of a less essential character hare obtained preference. Any suchi informa- j tion would be deemed to be conflderrfSaL. I and would only be disclosed; if neces- ■ sary, to the Government. It has) also* been stated that in coastwise shipments* i in New Zealand, priority has been; given j to certain classes of rrierchandis* in preference to other and allegedly mare ! essential goods, and any irrfonnatioffi, '; bearing upon this matter, with specific ' cases thereof, I should.-be .glad He*-re-» ceive." The following figures of-imports'-'{an increase in one set and a decrease in the other) for the four-month periods Ist January to 30th April, 1917, and 1918, to members:

:1»I7. 191g. liic, Gala. Gala. GaU. . Brandy ;..... 12,253 34,173 21,920; Gin, schnapps 26,755 51,010 24,255 Rum 4,665 5,282 617* Whisky .... 182,739 337,599 154,860? Wine (fer'd} |ls9s 3,203 I^2oß Wine (still) ,'34,094 46,510] 12,41 ft Benzine .... 1,055,320 1,468,448 415\128 1917. 1918. Dec ■ ■ ■£ <£ ■£ Hardware .: 104,603 Machinery .. 44,971 25,137 19,834 Drapery ... ; 78,185 58,316 19,869 Crockery ... 49J436 Textiles ,-..,.., 37,160 26,127 11,033 Woollens ■...■ 260,755 152,263 108,492 It was stated that oversea steamers had arrived during recent months without full cargoes. This appeared to he due to the fact that the steamers were running to a time-table, and so could not wait for cargo. They could not always take cargo that was waiting for them at British ports, owing to shortage of labor and other difficulties. It sometimes happened that New Zealand cargo was under other cargo at the stores in British ports, and could got out in time for loading. The council set up a committee to make enquiries and prepare a report for the Efficiency Board.