DOMINION PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1920, Page 6

DOMINION PRODUCE.

THE SHIPPING POSITION. EXTENSION OP MEAT COMMANDEER FAVORED BY MR. MASSEY." The Prime Minister, interviewed by a New Zealand Times representative on Saturday evening, stated that in view of tlie fact that there were 3,934,389 freight carcases of meat in store in New Zealand on December 31st, awaiting shipment on behalf of the Imperial Government, he waa of opinion that it would be a very good thing if the producers of the Dominion could renew, for a further year, the contract for the sale of their meat to the Home authorities. The meat question was, he explained, the most serious of all. Wool could be kept in store for some years, but meat could not. The dairy producers were agitating for a free market after the end of June, and the Government had no objection to that; but he did think that, seeing that it would be impossible to empty the stores of the Imperial meat purchase by the end of the present year, it would be a very good move if they could renew, the contract with the Imperial Government for another season, But the increase in shipping should be kept going at the same time, so far as was possible. With reference to the practice of "telescoping" mutton carcases, to economise space, Mr. Massey said that the producers' protests against the discontinuance of "telescoping" had been forwarded to the Imperial Government. The only reply received was to the effect that the "telescoping" had been found to interfere with the quality and selling value of the meat. Retailers had complained on that score.

NEW MEAT MARKETS. At present the great bulk of New Zealand's meat is shipped to London, and some congestion has resulted there. "I am surprised," said Mr. Massey, in regard to this matter, "that the Imperial authorities do not make more use of the huge stores in such centres as Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, because 1 cannot, 1 imagine that they are congested. That is, of course, a matter for the Imperial Government; but I have cabled to the High Commissioner, asking him to impress upon the authorities at Home the necessity of making use of tiio9e stores in other centres than London." It was suggested that steps might be taken by the New Zealand Government to open up markets in America and on the Continent, against the time when New Zealand meat would again be free of control, but Mr. Massey pointed out that, until it was definitely known when the commandeer would expire, there was little use in making further arrangements. It was quite certain that New Zealand would have no meat to put upon the open market before the end of the present year, at any rate.

THE WOOL POSITION. Speaking of the wool position, the Prime Minister said that the. Government had no objection that he knew of to an open market after June. Wool could be kept in store. It would be an additional advantage to the Dominion wool-growers if shipments could be made to America direct, when the rate of exchange was as at present, and our sovereign was worth only about 15s in America. But the wool was the British Government's until June next, and after that it would be a further nine months before there was any ready to ship. THE SHIPPING OUTLOOK. Discussing shipping prospects, the Prime Minister said that, at the close of last year, the following produce was awaiting shipment on account of the Imperial Government:— Meat 3,934,389 freight carcases. Cheese—l72,soß crates. Butter—l4l,sl9 boxes. W001—272,842 bales. On the other hand, the list of vessels in sight for February-March loading was as follows: Total Insulated " esse '- Capacity in 601b i Carcases. Armagh 133,000 Whakatane 75 000 Port Caroline lio'ooo Ruapehu 87^000 Matatua 88,000 3 H r i a , ma ." 91,000 .rort Napier 112000 Port Lyttelton SfiioQO S. uff ° ,k 120,000 rort Chalmers 87,000 Total 1,264,000 An allocation of the space in some of these steamers is likely to be made by the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee shortly. * M rther j nterest!n g .Point to which Mr. Massey directed attention was that more ships left the Dominion for the united Kingdom last year than in 1913, the last of the complete pre-war years. Iho number of insulated ships was, however, considerably reduced. The following is a comparison:—

STEAMERS DESPATCHED. Year. Insulated. Uninsulated. Total 1913 .. 89 4 QO M l 9 I'rf 74 28 102 Jn addition six insulated steamers were despatched to Egypt with Imperial Government purchases of New Zealand produce.

TONNAGE COMMITTEE TO ACT,

Mr. Massey added that he lias been in communication with the Overseas Shipping Committee, which controls the alio* nation of space in outward steamers. At its meeting this week, he stated, the lonnage Committee will endeavor to make provision for the difficulty in which certain works in Auckland and Hawke's Bay are placed. He is of opinion that the difficulties will be got over satisfactorily.