EXPORT OF PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1921, Page 5

EXPORT OF PRODUCE.

THE SHORTAGE OF SHIPS. EVERY EFFORT BEING MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In reply to the Prime Minister’s representations to the Imperial authorities with reference to the shortage of tonnage for the carriage of refrigerated produce, the following cable ha© been received by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner, under date March 7:— “Tonnage—With, reference to your telegram of February 24, I have made representations to the Ministry of Food and the tonnage committee, both of whom reply to the following effect: Every effort is being made and has been made to increase the amount of tonnage available for loading in New Zealand, and the diversion of the Port Hacking from Australia is given as an instance. In order to further increase the space for private cheese the Ministry of Food has consented to. reduce the space allocated for March butter. No steamer usually trading to New Zealand has been diverted. Owing to the scarcity of New Zealand cargo some steamers had to £> to Australia, but they are intended to load homeward from New Zealand.

“The Ministry of Food and the tonnage committee state that the delays are largely due to labor troubles in New Zealand, where steamers have taken frequently two months and over on the coast, and they point out that there is every inducement to ship-owners to secure the most rapid turn round, in that payment is made for them not on time but on a voyage basis. The tonnage committee states vessels are being turned round here as speedily possible and several liner© have been despatched in ballast owing to the shortage of outward bound cargo.”